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Minister To Open "Livestock Motel"

"Soft floors and internal lighting designed to create a stress-free environment" could well sound like the description for a five star motel.

By East Gippsland Shire Council - 10th September 2004 - Back to News

In this case however, it summarises conditions provided for livestock sold at the East Gippsland Livestock Exchange, popularly known as the "Bairnsdale Saleyards."

Since it began operations in March 2000, more than 460,000 bulls, horses, sheep calves, fat cattle, store cattle and lightweight steers have passed under the auctioneer’s hammer to gross more than $1.75 million in revenue.

But, while it has earned an excellent reputation for its efficiency as well as conditions the livestock love, the $2.5 million complex that was built in two stages had, until today, not been officially opened.

Victoria’s Treasurer and Minister for State and Regional Development John Brumby will attend to this final detail when he visits East Gippsland tomorrow.

He will unveil a plaque commemorating the occasion and auction the first pen of cattle at Friday’s spring store cattle sale.

Stage 1 of the complex was completed in March 2000 at a cost of $1,076,000 and funded by The East Gippsland Shire Council to the value of $1,050,000 and a State Government grant of $83,000. It provided 104 undercover pens together with elevated auctioneer walkways, delivery pens and loading ramps.

Stage 2 was completed in February 2002 with the State Government providing $1,435,000 and the East Gippsland Shire Council funding $370,000. This development included a total of 32 new yards in the delivery and receival areas as well s 28 multi-directional bull pens and additional loading and unloading ramps.

The complex in Grant Street, Bairnsdale complies with quality assurance requirements and has been designed to provide world-class yards that are efficient, safe, environmentally sound and add value to producer/seller incomes.

By minimising the risk of bruising and hide scarring, the facility has also gained the reputation of being East Gippsland’s ‘premier’ sale yard and has been applauded by buyers and sellers as well as the unstressed livestock.

Event Takes Place 12.15 PM, Friday, 10 September, 2004
East Gippsland Livestock Exchange – Grant St, Bairnsdale

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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