Two major projects at the Cootamundra saleyards are nearing completion.
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The new truck wash facility has been built and is already in use and the $330,000 project will be finished when a planned hot mix driveway is installed.
The new wash-out facilities aim to reduce the frequency of effluent spills from trucks, improve road safety and ensure consistent measures are in place to deliver against bio-security risks, which assist in community health and animal welfare requirements.
Driver safety and fatigue issues are addressed as carriers do not have to travel longer distances to other truck washes.
Minimising environmental issues such as weed management and effluent run off will have long-term benefits for the community, saleyards manager Jeff White said.
A new lighting and electrical upgrade project has been completed and is also receiving positive reactions from stock yard users, Mr White said.
New energy-efficient lights have been positioned over ramps, races, yards and pens avoiding glare and minimising shadows. The new lighting is a welcome addition for agents, truck drivers and those who need to use the yards at night.
The $300,000 electrical upgrade has also assisted with the installation of new security cameras around the yards that can be monitored constantly.
Lachlan Bassingthwaighte, from Bassingthwaighte Livestock Marketing, said the improvements at the saleyards have made the facility far safer and user friendly.
“In terms of the truck wash, it’s a big improvement, allowing multiple trucks to wash out at a time, which in turn means quicker turn around and all the other benefits associated with clean trucks,” he said.
“The lighting project for us as users will be very beneficial especially during winter, where we will be able to pen and draft sheep in readiness for sale in a safer and better environment than in the past.”
The upgrades bring the Cootamundra saleyards in line with other facilities of similar size and have addressed workplace, health and safety, environmental and economic issues.
“Buyers come to Cootamundra saleyards with confidence in the quality of stock that we present,” Mr White said.
“The producers around our region are diligent and very good at what they do, and these improvements will go a long way to ensuring our facility will continue to attract that good quality stock and most importantly, buyers from major meat processors” Mr White said.
Plans are being made for an official opening, but a date has not yet been set.
