Gunnedah Regional Saleyards $27.4 million redevelopment officially opened

The $27.4 million Gunnedah Regional Saleyards Redevelopment was officially opened by Gunnedah Shire Council mayor Colleen Fuller and Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty on Tuesday.

Of the funds invested, the NSW Government was responsible for $23.7 million while the Gunnedah Shire Council contributed $3.7 million.

“Without the NSW Government’s funding contribution, we would not have this amazing facility,” Cr Fuller said.

“It has been a wonderful project to watch develop [throughout] the past couple of years.”

Above: Gunnedah Shire Council mayor Colleen Fuller and Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty at the opening of the saleyards.

Included in the major works were a new multi-administration and buyers’ facility, new pens, improvements to internal roads, lighting and site access, and stronger biosecurity measures.

While it was initially intended to be ready in 2022, the project saw multiple delays.

The Gunnedah Times reported on these delays in June last year, including the requirement for a new turning lane. Read more here Progress on the Gunnedah Saleyards redevelopment – Gunnedah Times

Cr Fuller also mentioned weather may have caused some of the setbacks along with gathering materials.

“Those are the sort of things that can hold any project up,” she said.

The project had also required more funding, with it initially receiving $17 million in total.

Ms Moriarty said the upgrades were a worthy investment, with the saleyards employing 40 people and bringing a “$100 million of investment through the community”.

“[The redeveloped saleyard] is absolutely fit, not just for now but to be sustainable well into the future,” she said.

The minister said the upgrades not only protect the saleyards, but also provides more opportunity for the sector to grow, with agriculture worth $20 billion to the NSW economy.

“Everybody who’s been involved should be incredibly pleased and proud [of the outcome],” she said.unnedah Shire Council general manager Eric Groth said the Gunnedah Saleyards consistently ranked in the top five in NSW and the top eight in Australia.

He made multiple acknowledgements of those who helped see the project come to fruition, including to Gunnedah Stock and Station Agents Association president Tim Walsh.

Mr Walsh said the saleyard update will help Gunnedah move with the industry’s advancements.

He described the previous saleyard structures, with wooden rails and agents at the weather’s mercy. The redevelopment included roofing, which he said was positive for the welfare of the people and animals.

The saleyards were kept operational while construction was underway, with Mr Walsh stating it had only missed about two or three sales.

Mr Walsh believes there are likely thousands of producers who use the facility.

To wrap up the formal events, the minister and mayor planted an ironbark tree.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty and Gunnedah Shire Council mayor Colleen Fuller plant an ironbark tree to celebrate the opening of the Gunnedah Regional Saleyards Redevelopment.