Plans include an on-site abattoir with a target of about $10 million, with progress toward funding totaling $600,000 raised so far through Esparq Ventures, which links Indigenous entrepreneurs with investors.

A key logistics challenge is transporting cattle about 400 kilometers to the nearest abattoir due to seasonal road access and wet-season conditions, underscoring the need for improved infrastructure.

An Aboriginal-owned project at Normanby Station in Cape York, Queensland, is tackling feral wild cattle by harvesting the meat into a product called Bush Beef to benefit the community and environment.

Bush Beef creates local food, jobs, and training opportunities, addressing security and economic needs while honoring the Balnggarrawarra Traditional Owners’ and Normanby Aboriginal Corporation’s ties to the land.

By removing feral cattle, the program aims to reduce erosion and protect culturally significant areas, while expanding local food production and employment for Indigenous communities.

Support for the initiative centers on broader goals of improving food security, lowering local meat costs in Cape York, and fostering multi-generational community ownership of production assets.

The broader vision centers on locally owned production assets and long-term sustainability across generations, aligning with Indigenous empowerment and community goals.

Market interest in Bush Beef is positive, with stakeholders highlighting benefits for food security, local production, cheaper locally sourced meat, and broader social and environmental gains for Cape York.

The venture reflects a multi-generational Aboriginal leadership effort, with Normanby Station handed back to Traditional Owners about 30 years ago and a drive to create economic security through locally sourced meat.