The Scone Regional Livestock Selling Centre has underone huge upgrades over the past 18 months, which has increased the facility's capacity, efficiency and sustainability of saleyard operations, as well as supporting local jobs, increasing economic activity in the area, and increasing the safety and welfare of livestock and the people working or visiting the saleyards.
The saleyards have been operating since the 1940s and the previous facilities were established in the mid 1970s.
The $7 million upgrade included construction of new bays and selling pens, including a soft floor system, roof, water reticulation system and dust suppression system; a temporary services and holding yard shed and a new administration centre.
The redevelopment was carried out while the saleyards continued to operate and also included an improved entry road and carpark, shade sails over holding yards, and the introduction of online selling through StockLive, an innovative onlineplatform which allows saleyards users to market their cattle to more buyers.
Scone saleyards supervisor Brett Peel said while throughout has dropped this year due to COVID-19, the centre hosted 24,000 head, with 50 prime sales, and two special sales held.
"Due to numbers also we have only been able to hold one store sale, but we look forward to increasing numbers, enabling the running of our monthly store sales."
