The upgrade of Wagga Wagga City Council’s Livestock Marketing Centre (LMC) is continuing, with $1.9 million in concreting works now underway for the facility’s ageing sheep yards.
The existing bitumen surface of the sheep yards was laid more than 50 years ago in the mid-1970s during the initial establishment of the centre.
Council says it is now in poor condition and poses risks to visitors and livestock that come into the facility on a weekly basis, with potholes and uneven surfaces presenting a danger.
The removal of the bitumen and its replacement with concrete by contractor, Excell Gray Bruni, looks to rectify the issues by levelling out walkways where buyers move between pens, and smoothing out holding pens, reducing the risk of injury to livestock, Council said in a statement.
The holding pens will also have textured surfaces to minimise slipping and directing waterflow to the drainage systems.
LMC Manager, Paul Martin said it is being undertaken in stages between sales days to ensure the operations of the facility can continue with little or no disruption.
“We have been working with the contractor to coordinate the pour of the concrete and allow enough time for it to set between sheep and lamb sales days, which are held every Thursday,” Mr Martin said.
“It’s a tight schedule and is dependent on other factors such as the weather. So far it has gone reasonably smooth and is running on time.”
An estimated 60 cubic meters of cement is required for each of the 34 rows of pens.
The concreting of the sheep yards is another step in the overall upgrade of the LMC which commenced in 2017.
So far works have included the expansion of the cattle yards, relocation and roofing of the calf pens, and the installation of an elevated pedestrian walkway.
The LMC is the largest livestock sales facility in Australia in terms of animals that pass through each year, making it a leader in the industry and an asset to Wagga Wagga.
Maintaining the functionality, appearance, and potential for growth of the facility is an investment into the future of the livestock industry in the region, Council said.
In 2018/19 the value of the livestock sold through the LMC was $430 million. It is estimated this brings a contribution of $32.6 million to the local economy.
The concreting of the LMC sheep yards is expected to be completed by the beginning of June 2023.
