Installation of the 1mm thick zincalume ARAMAX roof sheeting has been a structural marvel, with one of only up to three mobile plants in Australia at the Gresford Road site to fabricate the 70m long V-shaped panels that are then lifted and bolted into place. 

The system is the same that was used to construct Sydney’s Olympic Stadium, reducing the structural steelwork from 1000 tonnes to 220 tonnes and significantly cutting the cost of the project. 

Funded by a $6 million grant under the state government’s Resources for Regions program and an additional $1.73 million from Singleton Council, the project is well on track for completion ahead of schedule in February 2018. 

Council’s director corporate and community Anthony Egan said it was an exciting point in the project to see the roof literally rolling out and the emergence of a modern venue for cattle sales in Singleton. 

“This project is a significant investment in the economic diversity of our local government area and a demonstration to the wider agricultural industry that Singleton intends to continue its long tradition of supporting primary producers,” he said.

“But while there have been saleyards on this site for more than 100 years, there are new practices and more robust guidelines that everyone across this industry must follow. 

“The upgrade we’re seeing at the Singleton Regional Livestock Market will bring us up to standard, and hold us up as one of the leading saleyard venues in the Hunter Valley and beyond.”

With the roof almost complete, Mr Egan said walkways, a new water supply and rainwater harvesting system, LED lights, new or refurbished cattle handling gates, upgrade to the sites power reticulation and new stainless steel drinking troughs would follow. 

The Gresford Road intersection and entrance to the facility is also being upgraded. 

“The next major part of the project will be construction of approximately one kilometre of walkways, and of course we’ll have the added advantage of having the roof in place to alleviate any impacts by wet weather,” Mr Egan added.

“The design work and construction to date is a tremendous credit to council’s major projects team and our contractors, Wiley Co, and it is likely we’ll see the project finished ahead of schedule in either January or February next year.”

In welcoming the news of the saleyards’ progress, Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen said the government was committed to improving its local business infrastructure. 

“Funding for initiatives such as this shows that the Resources for Regions program enhances our ability to create and maintain long-term and diverse industry options for our local regional community,” he said.