Australia's largest meat processor says the closure of two rail lines in central Queensland will create turmoil for the beef industry.
The State Government has closed the lines from Emerald to Clermont and Springsure because of concerns that safety inspections on a number of wooden bridges were not carried out.
The Rail Safety Regulator has been requested to conduct an inquiry into why it took Queensland Rail five weeks to inform it of the alleged safety breaches.
John Berry, from abattoir operator JBS, says about 5,000 head of cattle are moved on central western rail network every week.
He says closure of the rail link to Clermont worries him the most.
"We need to give some priority to the Clermont line, it's two services a week and there's a lot of cattle moved out of there," he said.
"We understand the need for inspections.
"We believe it could take eight weeks, but hopefully it'll take less than that.
"That's a very important part of the movement of cattle in that part of the country."
Source: none
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