THE new Northern Victorian Livestock Exchange, situated on the outskirts of Wodonga, is on track to be ready for its first sales early next year.
The project, situated 20kilometres west of Wodonga at the new Barnawartha North site, exceeded $20 million and boasts a state-of-the-art soft-floor cattle selling complex.
Nearly all of the 296 selling pens are complete at the 1.77ha undercover facility that has been flagged as a revolution in livestock selling and handling in Victoria.
The state-of-the-art complex is located on a 105hectare site near the Murray Valley and Hume Highways.
The 1.77hectare roof covers 296 selling pens and boasts four automated, two single and two bulk weigh, weigh stations and processing areas.
Check out the new saleyards here
The new cattle facility covers an area of 28,271 square and features 2,830 square metre holding pens with feeding facilities, 13 ramps including electrically adjustable delivery ramps and 72ha of holding paddocks.
Regional Infrastructure Proprietary Limited (RIPL) general manager Garry Edwards said the new development would lift the standard of livestock selling in Victoria.
NVLX has leading animal welfare conditions for cattle with non-bruise panelling, soft floor pens and reduced human/animal interaction through automated systems.
"Animal welfare will continue to be an issue for those facilities that have been unable to invest in upgrades, but it is an issue that won't go away and one that we need to embrace if we want to stay in the industry for the long term," Mr Edwards said.
"I don't see animal welfare as a standalone bad thing - if we want to be in the industry we want to achieve these standards in our own right not because a third party says it is the thing to do."
About 600 people visited the site at the NVLX official opening on the weekend.
The project has been dampened by controversy with opponents taking their protest about the change of location to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Elders, Albury livestock manager Matt Tinkler said there were still people who had reservations about the new facility.
"Until we see it in its working capacity, we can't comment or judge it 100per cent," Mr Tinkler said.
"No one is naïve to the fact there will be teething problems but in general everyone is respective of it."
He said the new facility addressed the long-standing issue with the current saleyard facility's concrete floor.
* Full report in this week's Stock & Land.
Annabelle Beale
National Sheep & Wool Writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media
National Sheep & Wool Writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media
