Challenge Namoi Unlimited, a Joint Organisation of Councils located in one of the most agriculturally productive regions of New South Wales, faced the challenge of effectively guiding and supporting the growth of intensive animal protein industries. Despite the region’s strong agricultural base in grain, beef, lamb, and poultry, there is currently a lack of comprehensive, geographically detailed data and decision-making tools to inform the development of agribusinesses.
Solution To address these challenges, the project delivered a region-wide industry database that maps the location of grain, beef, lamb, and poultry producers along with the commodities they generate. Accompanying this database is a multi-criteria decision support tool designed to help local government economic development officers assess and select appropriate locations for animal protein agribusiness development.
Impact The project delivered an industry database that geographically maps grain, beef, lamb and poultry businesses in the region along with the agri-commodities they produce, and a multi-criteria decision support tool to guide selection of locations for animal protein agribusiness development. The resulting database and decision support tool assisted local councils in the Namoi region to make informed, data-driven decisions that promote sustainable agricultural growth. By aligning local decision-making with state-level planning reforms, the project ensured that opportunities for expansion in intensive livestock production are both strategically located and compliant with regulatory frameworks, ultimately strengthening the region’s competitiveness.
