The Iona Project has reached a major milestone, with the Queensland Government declaring it a prescribed project on 16 July 2025. The declaration gives the state's Coordinator-General the powers to coordinate and streamline the approval process, working alongside the Central Highlands Regional Council to keep the development moving on a clear timeline.

Planned for a site west of Emerald in Central Queensland, Iona is designed as a fully integrated beef processing and agricultural precinct. At full capacity the facility could process up to 200,000 head of cattle a year, using robotics, automation and artificial intelligence to lift efficiency across the operation. Alongside the processing plant, the precinct takes in an adjacent feedlot, a rendering plant, cogeneration and biogas facilities, bio-nutrient processing and a water treatment plant.

The State Government estimates the project will support 188 construction jobs and 427 operational jobs once running, representing an investment of around $260 million in the Central Highlands. Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the declaration reflected the government's commitment to backing Queensland graziers and growing the beef industry in partnership with the private sector.

For the team behind Iona, the declaration validates an integrated model that pairs modern processing with feedlotting, on-site energy generation and high-value by-products. Managing director Martin Laffer described it as a significant milestone for Queensland's beef industry and its broader agricultural sector, one that, in his words, "future-proofs our existing businesses and helps ensure market access for the future."

The declaration lapse date is 15 July 2027, giving the project a defined window to progress its approvals.