Singleton Council General Manager Lindy Hyam says the saleyards are in  urgent need of an upgrade in order to remain operational, commercially viable and meet a range of standards including animal welfare, work health and  safety and disability access. 

 “With improved animal welfare and improved efficiencies, the project will allow us to reposition the saleyards in the marketplace to attract new agents, increase stock numbers and grow the business to a sustainable level,” she said. 

 “This project is a regional priority and Singleton Council’s resolution to submit  the project as the highest priority in this round of funding is evidence of that  need.” 

 The saleyards project will see a radical change of the selling environment and  will include roofing the entire facility of approximately 14,350 square metres  as well as: 

 • Soft floor with rubber 

• Preparation for rubber matting 

• Remove existing round concrete selling area and install new pens 

• Improve cattle forcing yard prior to scale and install guillotine lifting  gates 

• Walkways and staircase upgrade 

• Install new gates on and between selling pens 

• Replace wooden rails with steel rails 

• Divide existing dirt yards  

• Rebranding and marketing 

• Demolition of existing structures and the installation of new yards and pens 

• Removal of power poles and provide adequate lighting 

• Renovate existing amenities including toilets 

• Upgrade portable water throughout the yards including replacing troughs 

• Install grid and Avdata system entry after hours 

• Parking area and site beautification 

 It is expected the upgraded facility will see a 20 per cent increase in the head  of cattle passing through and provide the opportunity for much greater reach in sourcing new and additional markets. 

 The facility has a current capacity of 2000 head of cattle and was the 12th  largest stock saleyard in NSW based on throughput in 2012/13.