The Roma Saleyards are set to undergo a $4.2m upgrade. Photo: Matt Williams

AUSTRALIA’S biggest saleyards are set to undergo a $4.2m upgrade, with work to be done to ramps, walkways, fences, footpaths and the truck wash.

In delivering its annual budget, the Maranoa Regional Council announce the upgrades, which include:

• Ramp Replacement – Primaries Road extension allows the Saleyards to focus on the loading ramps at the facility improving the overall experience for transporters and Saleyard staff. This project aims to make loading and unloading safer & more efficient for transporters, staff, and cattle.  Offsetting and redesigning the ramps will increase the capacity of trucks using the ramps simultaneously and the number of cattle that can be un/loaded at once, increasing overall capacity. This will assist in reducing wait times and physically separate cattle movements and staff in key areas.
• Walkways – Replacement walkways will provide compliant wider walkways allowing agents, buyers and contractors easy, safe access to view, sell and scan the cattle.
• Hardstand – General freight hardstand, helping wider transport industry while improving dust, mud and surface condition for transport. Asphalt the existing gravel surface at the Roma Truck Stop Precinct.  Funding from Safer Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Aust Govt funding 80/20 Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program.
• Site fencing – Investment in replacing existing fencing across the facility to maintain secure facility for cattle entrusted to site.
• Footpath –Foot path extension to improve access from the lower carpark for visitors and users of the site.

Mayor Wendy Taylor said the investment is essential to keeping the saleyards a commercial success.

“It’s important to invest in this vital regional asset to continue to develop it as a self-sustaining commercial operation,” Cr Taylor said.

“This facility isn’t just integral to our local agricultural economy, it’s central to our tourism economy too.

“With so much of our lives spent online these days, the Roma Saleyards is ever more important as a meeting place and not just a marketplace.

“These projects will ensure the facility runs efficiently for our sellers, ensuring Roma’s Saleyards remains Australia’s premier selling centre.”

Source: Maranoa Regional Council