Friday, March 29, 2024

Fee rise funds major upgrade

Recent stories

South Australia’s biggest saleyards, the Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange (NRLE), is set to increase the footprint of its undercover cattle section by 40 percent in a multi-million-dollar upgrade.

An expanded roof, a revamp of the unloading ramp area and truck wash modifications form part of the improvements that will see around $2 million spent at the facility.

Generating more than $1.5 billion during the past decade and equipped with the latest technology, the facility underpins Naracoorte’s vibrant economy.

In addition to being the biggest livestock exchange in SA, it is hailed as one of the nation’s premium selling centres.

Livestock exchange board chairman Cr Cameron Grundy highlighted the current upgrades at Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s April 26 meeting, which cemented an eight percent increase in yard fees.

Cr Tom Dennis, who works for Elders, declared a conflict of interest, and indicated he would stay for Cr Grundy’s report, but not participate in the voting.

Cr Grundy explained there was a lot of activity occurring at the saleyards, while the income and expenditure were both slightly behind budget.

“The throughput of cattle and sheep is reduced this financial year so far,” Cr Grundy said.

“While it has been suggested the stock are still in the paddock, and reduced throughout is based largely on seasonal conditions, it is anticipated that this will largely be caught up.

“Capital works are in full swing with the D Yard roof frame in place, and possibly some roofing (by) now.

“Now we can begin to grasp how impressive the additions will be once they have been completed, providing an approximate 40 percent increase in the size of the footprint of the cattle yards.

“The loading ramp and receival pens are also well underway with local engineer Sam Crocker carrying out that part of the task.”

Cr Grundy highlighted a new cattle crush was purchased at Lucindale’s South East Field Days with both livestock and the handler’s safety and welfare in mind.

Regarding major works at the truck wash, Cr Grundy believed the concrete form work was now finished.

“Once this project has been completed there will be a significant ongoing savings to the saleyards, particularly from a maintenance perspective,” he said.

“The truck wash is the biggest in the state and to some degree has become a victim of its own success whereby there has been additional pressure on the entire effluent system, which has also been required to be addressed.

“With all of these improvements coming along in a relatively short space of time, inevitably the question of how these improvements will be funded arises.”

Cr Grundy said the board had considered yard fees from other saleyard facilities, alternative methods of livestock marketing available to vendors and their associated advantages and disadvantages.

“The board believes next year’s yard fee increase of eight percent reconciles the value provided to the sellers of livestock, the buyers of the livestock, the agents and the transporters, with the ongoing requirement of maintaining and improving the saleyard facility in a financially sustainable way,” he said.

“At this point, we, the board, would like to acknowledge the dedication and commitment by our staff, as the current improvements are large and complex in nature and require a great deal of serious focus, which we believe they have delivered in a professional and timely manner.”

Naracoorte Community News 24 May 2023

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Sign up for updates from Australian Rural & Regional News

Manage your subscription

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

For all the news from Naracoorte Community News, go to https://www.naracoortenews.com/