Home
  / Sustainability

News and Events

Upcoming events

Stay tuned for upcoming community events

All News and Updates

AllProjectCommunityMilestonesNews
Milestones
06 May 26

Iona Project enters formal development application process following prescribed project declaration

The Iona Project has entered the formal development application process, marking a major milestone as the project moves from planning and design towards construction and delivery.

Milestone
News
Project
Community
24 Jul 25

What Iona means for Central, Western, and Northern Queensland

Beyond beef, the Iona Project is about regional jobs and economic diversification for a Central Highlands community that leans heavily on coal mining.

Community
Project
News
Project
21 Jul 25

Technology-led design sets a new benchmark for beef processing

The Iona Project is being designed around automation, artificial intelligence and integrated sustainability systems to create a next-generation beef processing precinct.

News
Project
17 Jul 25

Iona Project declared a prescribed project by the Queensland Government

The Queensland Government has declared the Iona beef processing project near Emerald a "prescribed project," fast-tracking approvals for a facility that could process up to 200,000 head of cattle a year.

Project
Milestone
Milestones
02 Feb 23

Groundwater validation confirms a secure water supply for the Iona Project

Groundwater investigations confirmed a secure and sustainable water supply, providing a critical foundation for the long-term operation of the Iona Project.

Milestone
Milestones
06 Jun 22

Specialist design team appointed to shape the Iona Project

148 East appointed specialist advisors to begin the planning and design of the integrated Iona Project, translating the project's vision into a buildable development.

Milestone
Milestones
02 Feb 22

Site selection establishes the foundation for the Iona Project

148 East secured the Iona Downs site in February 2022 following a detailed assessment of location, infrastructure and long-term suitability for an integrated processing precinct.

Milestone
Milestones
01 Nov 21

148 East established by four Central Queensland cattle families

Four founding families formed 148 East to drive the abattoir investment, committing significant seed funding to get the project underway.

Milestone
Milestones
01 Nov 18

Community forum held to explore regional processing opportunity

A community forum hosted by the Central Highlands Regional Council brought local interest together, and a steering committee was formed to explore investment in a regional abattoir.

Milestone
See more

148 East in the news

Proposed Iona beef facility declared a prescribed project

July 1, 2026

The Queensland Government declared the Central Highland Iona Project a prescribed project, giving the Coordinator-General powers to fast-track approvals for the Emerald facility, which could process 200,000 head of cattle a year and support more than 400 operational roles.

Queensland Government

'Build it and they will come': Inside Emerald's proposed $260M meatworks vision

July 24, 2025

Martin Laffer details the $260 million integrated plant and 30,000 SCU feedlot, arguing a standalone abattoir would not be viable and that technology has finally made the model stack up.

Queensland Country Life

Big beef vision wins prescribed project status

July 17, 2025

Trade coverage of the Emerald agricultural precinct winning prescribed project status, noting the Northern Australian Agrifoods proposal and the construction and operational jobs expected to follow.

iQ Industry Queensland

Proposed CQ beef processing facility fast-tracked by Qld Government

July 17, 2025

Queensland's government granted prescribed project status to the proposed Iona abattoir at Emerald, a robotics and AI equipped plant from Northern Australian Agrifoods with capacity for 200,000 head a year.

Beef Central
148 East logo
© 2026 148 East Pty Ltd.
Terms Of UsePrivacy PolicyCookie notice