A DUBBO City Council committee wants to hear more about a “staged, rolling, re-development” of the ageing Dubbo saleyards that could save it and livestock producers millions of dollars.
The committee would also see plans for any public/private partnership put on ice until more is learnt about the newest option.
If the staged redevelopment looks good after further investigation it could be the answer to ensuring the saleyards, which contributes about $50 million to the Dubbo economy annually, stay in the city’s hands and retain its national significance.
The council’s finance and policy committee this week considered new treatments for an asset that has been aching for more than two years.
The council previously estimated a lump sum of $12 million was needed to develop a new sheep-selling facility at the Dubbo Regional Livestock Martkets.
Dubbo Stock and Station Agents Association put forward suggestions last month that would give more room and newer facilities for a much smaller outlay of $3.04 million.
The council would also retain ownership under the agents’ plan, which removed the need for a third party.
Council corporate development director Ken Rogers said while the matter had been “protracted” the proposals had “almost come full circle”.
“Time has allowed considerable discussion and thought to take place to achieve what is hopefully the best outcome for all stakeholders,” he said in his report to the advisory committee meeting.
It found some support at a saleyards advisory committee meeting of councillors, council staff, agents, carriers, buyers and producers, but they also made some changes.
Councillors at the finance and policy committee meeting agreed.
Cr Peter Bartley moved the motion, which he commended.
It was another step on the path towards the right answer for the saleyards, he said.
It had been a long path, with 18 months of work with stakeholders, and they still had to wait until the end of the financial year for the detailed concept plans with costings, he said.
It did not completely remove the option of a public private partnership, which was good because the council had already done the work, hearing from interested parties, he said.
It was important the council moved the right way on the saleyards and the four recommendations to the committee were right, he said.
The recommendations included a second set of scales and flooring improvements for the cattle section of the saleyards, which Mr Riley said were big issues.
Councillors will have a final vote on the recommendations at Monday’s council meeting.
In 2008/2009 the Dubbo saleyards were the largest in Australia in terms of combined sheep and cattle throughput, with in excess of 1.3 million sheep and 200,000 cattle sold annually.
It generates 1.3 per cent of the city’s gross regional product or $170,000 each year.
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