New England Associated Agents President Sam Sewell, left, Northern Tablelands MP and Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall and Armidale Regional Council Interim Administrator Viv May at the Armidale Regional Saleyards today for the $5 million announcement.
Monday, 26 October 2020
A $5 MILLION upgrade of the Guyra and Armidale Livestock Selling Centres has today been ‘knocked down in one bid’, with Northern Tablelands MP and Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall announcing funding had been secured for the significant redevelopments.
Mr Marshall joined Armidale Regional Council Interim Administrator Viv May and President of the New England Associated Agents Sam Sewell at the Armidale Saleyards to make the industry shaping announcement.
“Today marks a turning point for livestock producers in the Northern Tablelands, with this redevelopment set to deliver improved livestock handling facilities and increased buyer competition for vendors,” Mr Marshall said.
“Both Guyra and Armidale saleyards directly in jects more than $72 million into the local economy each year, selling around 300,000 head of sheep and cattle on average every 12 months.
“Following a meeting last week with Acting Deputy Premier Paul Toole, I was successful in securing the $4,998,000 needed for these works, through the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund.
“Using this grant, Council will replace and extend the cattle holding yards at Armidale Saleyards, renew its cattle weighing scales, increase the amount of vehicle parking and refurbish amenities and offices.
“To improve environmental sustainability on site a system will be installed to harvest water from the large existing roof, which will be used in a truck wash-down reuse program, with solar panels also to be installed to lower power costs on site.
“At Guyra, all the old timber sheep yards and loading races will be replaced with steel and the onsite amenities and kiosk facilities will be refurbished.
“Heavy-vehicle access will be improved with works to be undertaken on internal and external roads.
“Increasing the holding capacity and improving access will make these yards some of the highest quality in northern NSW, attracting the best stock, biggest buyers and highest prices for farmers.”
NSW Public Works Advisory (PWA) will manage the project, working alongside Armidale Regional Council.
Mr Marshall acknowledged Armidale Regional Council and the New England Associated Agents for the plan they presented to the government.
“This is just the type of big picture infrastructure which both Armidale and Guyra needs to rebuild their drought, bushfire and COVID-19 effected economies,” he said.
“By capitalising on both town’s strengths in agriculture, these upgrades will ultimately result in new and greater opportunities to market livestock, facilitating the growing appetite for online selling.
“If cattle graziers in outlying areas like Walcha know they are going to consistently get high prices selling at nearby Armidale, they will be more inclined to send their stock there, instead of Tamworth.
“Council has given the commitment it will undertake these works in a staged process, so as not to impact on regular sheep and cattle sales.”
The project will be jointly funded by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments.