ROOFING, new flooring and pen re-configuration are some of the highlights of a mooted $5 million upgrade to the Mount Gambier and District Saleyards.
The major infrastructure revamp is expected to begin within the next year, dependent on funding, and is the showpiece of the saleyards ten-year Master Plan 2020-2030, which is currently open for public consultation.
In addition to new adjustable cattle ramps and landing platforms announced last year, Grant District Council has outlined plans for a 13,600 metre square roof to cover the cattle selling pens, a reconfiguration of holding pens, the replacement of rubber matting with either sawdust or woodchip in yards, the installation of solar panels for power supply and a rainwater catchment, as well as the replacement of concrete slabs on the buyers' walkways.
State and Federal funding will be sought for the project, with the balance being funded through the saleyards' cash reserves.
Grant District Council chief executive officer Darryl Whicker said the Master Plan had tried to find the right balance between ongoing expansion and upgrades, as well as the ongoing maintenance on existing infrastructure.
"This $10M facility plays such a critical role in the agricultural industry in the Limestone Coast Region and this plan will help guide its growth and development over the next ten years," he said.
There was $122M worth of livestock transactions at the saleyards during the 2019-2020 financial year and Mr Whicker said market forecasting indicating rising store cattle numbers, and imminent upgrades, could lead to store sales being held fortnightly rather than monthly in the not too distant future.
Nutrien Ag Solutions Mount Gambier's Sam O'Connor, who has been involved in the plan's draft process and has been selling cattle at the saleyards for 20 years, said the master plan was an "overall package" and would make the saleyards as "modern as anywhere in the country".
"The soft flooring is definitely going to be a huge asset as far as animal welfare goes," he said.
"The rubber matting has served us very well, but to have a genuine soft floor of sawdust or woodchip is certainly the way going forward for saleyards.
"The roofing over the new structure creates a lot more comfort for the animals and the workers and buyers."
Pens will be reconfigured to include gates opening on three sides, which Mr O'Connor said would allow agents to sell larger runs of cattle while also saving on cleaning time for yard staff.
"With the reconfiguration of the yards, we plan on taking some existing delivery yards and re-configuring them into selling pens," he said.
"By then being able to open up the gate that separates each pen in the middle means that you can have bigger lots of cattle in the yards and use those as delivery pens when needed as well.
"It also makes it more efficient for council for cleaning of the soft floor. They can open up the middle gates and drive a bobcat straight through to scoop out used sawdust or woodchip."
Mr O'Connor said the saleyards selling agencies were thankful for the work done on the Master Plan by council and their efforts to continually evolve the saleyards and ensure it was as modern and attractive as any.
A question and answer session is scheduled for on November 13 at the saleyards to provide more information to saleyards users on the new ramps project and outcomes of public consultation on the Master Plan.
Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.