Upper Hunter Shire mayor Wayne Bedggood said the project would increase the capacity, efficiency and sustainability of saleyard operations, support local jobs and increase economic activity, and also increase the safety and welfare for the livestock, and those working or visiting the saleyards.

Upper Hunter Shire Council approved a tender for the main construction work for the $11.8 million project and will contribute a loan of $8.4 million, fully serviced from the facility’s operational budget.

Council received a $2,827,248 grant from the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund, and a $325,700 grant from the Fixing Country Truck Washes program, which is a joint NSW and Australian Government initiative.

Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen welcomed the modernisation works, noting that truck washes play an important role in vehicle productivity and maintenance, as well as protecting NSW’s biosecurity.

“Fixing Country Truck Washes, which is a joint federal-state initiative, contributes to the cost of constructing or upgrading truck wash facilities to help remove bottlenecks that constrain logistic businesses and protect our local environment and wider NSW against the spread of weeds and disease,” he said.

Scone Regional Livestock Selling Centre has been operating since the 1940s and the current facilities were established in the mid-1970s. 

The saleyards project includes:

* Constructing a new concrete bay next to the existing truck wash bays for livestock trucks to empty their effluent tanks more efficiently. Encouraging more livestock transporters to install effluent tanks will reduce the amount of manure on local roads;

* Installing a manure waste management facility which will process the manure into a weed and pathogen free compost that will be used by council and sold to local gardens. Removal of existing pen infrastructure and concrete flooring and construction of new selling pens with soft flooring;

* Construction of approximately 7000 square metres of roof area over selling and holding pens; Installation of water tanks and a water reticulation system to provide drinking water to livestock, water supply for truck wash and for dust suppression over floor areas, reducing reliance on town water and therefore costs;

* Construction of drainage infrastructure;

* Construction of  dedicated light vehicle parking area;

* Installation of walk through cattle scanners to improve cattle management and allow offering of overnight cattle agistment;

* New power distribution, supply and lighting, and close circuit television (CCTV) system and IT upgrade to Livestock Selling System improving sale day efficiency and offering online live streaming and auctioning;

* Construction of a new workshop and storage shed;

* Replacement of security fencing around the effluent settling ponds; and

* Upgrade the entrance into the facility and landscaping.

Once complete the saleyards upgrade will:

* Improve animal welfare;

* Improve work health and safety;

* Improve bio security management;

* Reduce the environmental impact;

* Ensure the facility is sustainable;

* Increase throughput;

* Expand selling opportunities;

* Increase turnover to the regions cattle producers;

* Increase returns for the cattle producers, council and agents;

* Cattle retaining lifetime tracability;

* Increase efficiency immediately; and

* Reduce operational costs.

The saleyards will be able to meet the criteria of the National Saleyards Quality Assurance Program and upgrade the membership status from Participant level to Accredited level, which meets the requirements of the Commonwealth Industry Body SAFEMEAT, as well as meeting requirements to retain EU accreditation and meet the biosecurity and animal welfare regulations.