UPGRADES and expansions at Dubbo Regional Livestock Markets cattle facilities were tested during the weekly prime cattle sale yesterday, and by reports, all went well.
Included the construction of a second weigh-bridge, 140 selling pens, four double-deck ramps and the reconfiguration of at least two express lanes, close to 4000 prime cattle were put through at his first sale.
Thirteen air-operated drafting gates and at least one ratchet rotary force yard was installed along with 32 additional receiving pens with buyers’ and auctioneers’ walkways.
More than 30 jobs were created during the construction phase with 22 ongoing jobs as a result of the upgrade – this is in addition to the 245 fulltime equivalent jobs at the Dubbo saleyards.
The Dubbo yards generate $75 million a year to the local economy and the expansion of the sheep and cattle complexes cost $6.6 million.
The new expansion was officially opened on July 28 by Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton.
Dubbo Stock and Station Agents Association president Matt Webber said the upgrades would help maintain Dubbo’s number one cattle selling position in the state and its ranking of number one in combined species sales within Australia.
“The new developments are second to none and have made it a lot safer for agents to work in,” he said.
