Earthworks at the new Miners Rest saleyards site which, boarders both the Sunraysia and Western Highways about 12 kilometres outside of Ballarat, began early last week.  

The new saleyards which will be known as the Central Victoria Livestock Exchange were first proposed more than seven years ago, but have faced considerable opposition from community groups as well as some stock agents.   

CVLX spokesperson Gary Edwards said the development company, Developer Regional Infrastructure Pty Ltd, was looking forward to running at least one open day during the construction process to allow the public to gain a greater understanding of the project. 

“It’s extremely exciting to finally get construction under way after all these years,” Mr Edwards said.

“Unfortunately there's not many new saleyards developments being built in Australia so it’s difficult for people to understand and compare to what they've seen.”  

Th $22 million facility will be built across 45.6 hectares, with development expected to be completed in mid 2018 depending on weather. 

With more than 30,000 square metres of selling pens housed under roof, the new facility will be about 8000 square metres larger than the existing Delacombe saleyards on La Trobe Street.   

The new facility is expected to be able to handle up to 70,000 cattle and 1.6 million sheep per annum.  Vehicles will enter the site via the Sunraysia Highway, with trucks set to park on the western side of the yards.

Resting paddocks will also be developed for stock while they are not in the selling pens.  

About 50 per cent of the contracts for the build have been awarded to local companies, a decision Mr Edwards said was part of the reason the project start date had been repeatedly pushed back. 

The company had originally hoped to begin construction in early 2016 after council gave the project the green light to the development plan in October 2016.   

“It’s going to be a a very impressive facility, the challenge is it's been seven years coming and we would have liked it to be two years,” Mr Edwards said.  

“We’ve tried to employ and engage local businesses where we can and try and give local companies more of a chance for the bidding which is part of the reason it’s taken longer than we would have liked.  

“All controversy should be put to bed once and for all now there's bulldozers building a $22 million facility because everyone will benefit from the outcome.”