THE long-awaited multi-million dollar upgrade of the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange in Casino New South Wales is in its final design stage; final planning approvals will follow, with construction planned to start by June.
Richmond Valley Council’s General Manager Vaughan Macdonald said design build company Wiley secured the tender for the upgrade, providing best price of $4,637,869.
Mr Macdonald said Wiley’s innovative proposal would deliver Council’s requirements of roof structure, gate and pen upgrades, walkways, storm water management, electrical upgrades, perimeter fencing, security, and soft flooring.
View the concept video of the completed facility created by Wiley:
He said Council had scope to negotiate with Wiley for further improvements in Stage 1, to utilise the full $7 million budget. Options under consideration included semi-automated drafting, automated gates, power upgrades, improvement of the existing roof, and resolving flooring issues in the post-sale holding yards.
He said Wiley had successfully delivered projects of a similar scale and complexity.
“Wiley recently completed the $12 million Dalby saleyards redevelopment, and a key feature was the company’s ability to stage the construction enabling the facility to continue to operate at full capacity,” Mr Macdonald said.
“Wiley also has first-hand experience with involving and engaging our local community as it was the contractor for the recently completed Northern Cooperative Meat Company’s state-of-the-art cold chain management facility, and other essential upgrades.
“Wiley’s team worked with a wide variety of local consultants, contractors and suppliers, and has committed to furthering these relationships.”
Wiley Managing Director, Tom Wiley said “we are excited to be working in this region again, helping NRLX to strengthen their reputation as the best facility on the North Coast. Tom praised NRLX for the improvements which will result in the highest animal welfare and work, health and safety standards as well as contributing significantly to the local economy.”
Council received 43 submissions in response to its call for expressions of interest for the supply and delivery of landscape design, architecture, engineering and project management services. Council hosted nine interested parties in September, receiving four tenders:
- CBC Innovations – $6,605,845
- Ahrens – $6,699,777
- Osborn Consulting – $6,698,000
- Wiley – $4,637,869
Mr Macdonald said by enabling expansion and improvements to the NRLX, Council was certain this investment would pay dividends for economic development within the Richmond Valley and the wider Northern Rivers region.
He said the Richmond Valley community derived significant direct economic benefit from the NRLX, with sales turnover tipped to exceed the $100 million mark this year.
“Benefits flow to local growers having a facility close to their operations, stock and station agents who use the yards to run their business, transport operators who move stock and purchase fuel, locals who work there, and the businesses who support the NRLX operations and its users,” Mr Macdonald said.
“There are also substantive indirect benefits which flow to the community through increased business transactions and services, which are required to service the families who live in the area because of the saleyards, and the additional activity that takes place when people outside of the area attend sales.”
The estimated completion deadline for the upgrade is December.
