The Dubbo Regional Livestock Markets is in line for a further multi-million-dollar expansion as new analysis shows the facility's contribution to the region's economy has climbed by more than $25 million in five years.
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Dubbo City Council this week resolved to upgrade the cattle section of the complex to better manage sales at the facility, which has recorded unprecedented numbers of cattle in the past year.
Along with a concept for up to 200 new selling pens and other additions councillors also welcomed new economic impact analysis.
It showed that with the recent growth of the business the economic contribution it made to gross regional product in 2013-2014 was $75.6 million, council corporate development director Ken Rogers said.
That was up from $47.7 million in 2009.
Cr John Walkom welcomed the report of the saleyards advisory committee and its recommendations for expansion, saying it would certainly address some of the problems arising from the large numbers of the past year.
Cr Allan Smith said the saleyards was a vital part of the economy of Dubbo.
He said the council had taken the "not easy" decision to go ahead with a $4 million upgrade of the sheep-selling yards already and that was "about to come online" in February.
The recommendations would grow the business further, Cr Smith said.
The expansion recommendations were carried unanimously.
Dubbo mayor Mathew Dickerson said the growth of the business in the past five years had been "dramatic".
"It has not been unusual to see prime cattle sales of between 5000 and 7000 head or more per sale day this past year," he said.
The concept endorsed by the council includes an additional weighbridge, a new wagon wheel delivery pen close to scales, an additional east-west lane along the southern boundary, double-deck loading ramps and up to 200 new selling pens.
Detailed designs will now be prepared in consultation with the Dubbo Stock and Station Agents Association and other key groups to be presented to a future council meeting.
"The upgrade will facilitate quicker and safer loading and unloading, ease congestion and improve efficiencies at the markets in order to continue to accommodate high cattle numbers," Cr Dickerson said.
"The full project cost is anticipated to be $6 million with a grant application having recently been made to the National Stronger Regions Program to assist with funding."
In addition to any success with the $3.3 million application, Mr Rogers said the upgrade could be funded by the livestock markets business through its cash reserves and borrowings.
