SALEYARDS across NSW recorded reduced livestock throughput again last financial year, but that’s not stopping some centres from spending big bucks on improvements, expansions or relocations.
The Gunnedah saleyards, in the State’s North West, will undergo a major revamp which will include the construction of 60 new selling and holding pens.
A total of $850,000 has been set aside by Gunnedah Shire Council, which approved the development recently.
In line with improvements to animal welfare standards at the yards, provisions have also been made for additional installation of shadecloth over sections of the yards.
Gunnedah mayor Adam Marshall said the shadecloth had already been installed over some of the cattle holding areas.
“The expansion and improvement works will not only increase the holding capacity of the saleyards but also ensure Gunnedah continues to remains ahead of the industry pack,” he said.
“The extra pens will remove the need to re-pen cattle on larger sale days, allow vendors to better display their stock and reduce the amount of animal handling.
“The saleyards is an important facility for the livestock industry around Gunnedah and the surrounding districts, injecting tens of millions of dollars into the local economy each year.
“With road train access to the yards beginning at Easter, the construction of the new selling pens is timely and will ensure a bright future for the complex and continued benefits to local cattle producers, agents and the broader community.”
Gunnedah stock and station agents association president Guy Gallen described the plan for new pens and the road train access as “brilliant”.
“Ideally, to display the cattle well we like to have eight to 10 head per pen, and these extensions will help achieve this on the really big sale days,” Mr Gallen said.
“On the days when the sales are not as large, having the extra pens will also enable maintenance to be carried out on the older sections.”
Gunnedah is the second largest cattle selling centre in NSW with almost 133,000 head sold through the saleyards last financial year worth a gross total of more than $98 million.
Mr Gallen claimed even though Dubbo ranked first in the State for throughput, Gunnedah was number one for having consistently the best prices in the State for prime stock.
To cater for the tri-dolly road trains, he said plans were in place for a new loading ramp which would make loading and unloading much easier.
NSW Minister for Roads and Ports Duncan Gay said the NSW Coalition government was delighted to help support the growth of Gunnedah’s local economy by allowing more modern and productive freight trucks to access the saleyards.
“This reform will allow A-double road trains fitted with road-friendly suspended tri-axle dollies and B-Triple and AB-Triple trucks to service the saleyards, resulting in a more efficient road freight outcome for North West NSW,” he said.
“The tri-axle dolly on these modern road trains will be permitted to operate at 20 tonnes for general mass limits and 21 tonnes for concessional mass limits.”
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