Council News CITY OF WAGGA WAGGA
FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 4 JUNE 2016
Issue 97
Weekly information from us to you Welcome to Wiradjuri Country
Earthworks have transformed the former Narrung Street treatment ponds into a vibrant wetland with native plants and wildlife. The Marrambidya Wetland was officially opened yesterday with a Welcome to Country by Aunty Kath Withers, a smoking ceremony and the release of 20,000 fish. Continued insde
'Bigger and better' Master plan to see Livestock Marketing Centre continue to grow
It’s already unmatched nationally in a number of areas and now a strategic master plan will ensure the Livestock Marketing Centre (LMC) continues to be one of the best facilities in Australia. More than $387M worth of stock was sold through the LMC in the last financial year – about 1.85 million sheep and 222,000 cattle. “Now is the right time to grow this
important facility to ensure it continues to be one of the premier livestock centres in the country,” Council’s Director Commercial and Economic Development James Bolton said. “The LMC is the premier livestock selling centre for cattle, sheep and lambs in southeast Australia. “Since 1979, the LMC has led the way in livestock sales and helped pioneer ring selling of cattle in Australia. “It provides an estimated $32.6 million in gross regional product to the local economy and supports in excess of 200 jobs through
direct and flow-on effects. “This strategic master plan will build on its long history and ensure it continues to be one of the premier livestock centres in the country,” Manager of the Livestock Marketing Centre, Paul Martin said. The LMC was designed with an estimated capacity of about 2700 cattle and 27,000 sheep, which it is now consistently exceeding. A key part of the master plan is outlining the infrastructure needed to expand the LMC’s capacity to meet the industry’s current and future needs.
“The first step is to increase the volume to 5500 cattle and 45,000 sheep, almost double its original capacity,” Mr Martin said. “Long term, there is the potential to make the LMC large enough to accommodate 8500 cattle and 70,000 sheep.” Along with increasing the LMC’s capacity, the master plan also outlines how to accommodate changes in environmental, animal welfare and work health and safety legislation. The immediate expansion works will begin in the 2016/17 financial year.
What 's your vision Wagga? 15 May - 11 June 2016 | 1300 292 442 | wagga.nsw.gov.au/waggaview