BALLARAT livestock agents are demanding a say in the final saleyards development plans for the new Central Victorian Livestock Exchange, which is expected to be submitted within seven weeks.
Four years after taking over management of the Ballarat Saleyards, Regional Infrastructure Proprietary Limited (RIPL) are preparing to file the planning submission for the new Miners Rest site, which they hope to be operational next year.
"The plans we have viewed and seen so far are not acceptable," Ballarat Stock & Station Agents (BSSA) president Gerry White said.
"The plans we looked at six weeks ago looked smaller than what we originally viewed well over 12 months ago and right from the beginning (of consultation) the capacity has not been big enough to handle the throughput we have."
Mr White said agents would not support the site if the saleyards did not meet users' minimum standards in terms of size and functionality and would put forward a formal objection if the plans went through Ballarat City Council without their approval.
"What we are saying is 'no', we can't compromise on capacity and we can't compromise on loading ramps because physically the stock won't fit," he said.
"(RIPL) have been operating here for four years and have been taking a substantial profit out of it and so they should have extra money to be putting into this development.
"We want to see the final plans and have the final say before the planning permit is put to council."
RIPL general manager Garry Edwards told Stock & Land that council can expect to receive the planning submission within seven weeks and blamed the development delays on site challenges.
"The greatest hurdle is simply being patient to wait for the preferred land site and unfortunately that was a process that we had no control over the time frame of because it needed to run through its own timeframe that involved personal issues with the vendor of that land," Mr Edwards said.
"In a best case scenario, yes it is feasible to have sales next year however, there are so many factors outside of our control being the planning process, physically getting approvals in place, community consultation and so on, that simply takes time."
Once through the planning process, the construction of the site is anticipated to take less than 12 months.
Mr Edwards said there had been "incorrect assumptions" made about the current site size, and argued the new site was comparative with area and throughput capacity.
"… the current yards are only high 30,000 square metres, and the current concept we are working with, albeit without modifications in reference to the agents feedback, is 35,000-36,000sqm," he said.
"The capacity is being set up to handle (cattle) sales of up to 3000 head and we believe that is achievable to have store sales of that size within the proposed concept.
"Obviously long-term we would like to see these sales moves from being 3000 a month to 3000 a fortnight if we can."
Mr Edwards said the site aimed to hold the current stock numbers through a more modernised design concept.
The sheep facility design is flow-through with multi-use pens, which he said was far more efficient than the current layout.
The plans include an automated weighing system and electronic data collection off mobile tablets and wireless connectivity.
"Participants, whether they are vendors or buyers, can have immediate access to the information," Mr Edwards said.
The cattle facility will be a soft-floor design to facilitate current market requirements while adhering to eating quality assurance and improved animal welfare standards.