Charlotte Varcoe
THE Mount Gambier and District Saleyards is one step closer to securing critical federal government funding for the transformation project.
Grant District Council recently submitted an expression of interest to the new Growing Regions Program, seeking funding for the ongoing project.
It was part of a two-stage application process, council lodged an expression of interest with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts to assess the project’s eligibility and progress to stage two of the application process.
Project design tender winners, Mossop Construction and Interiors, generated a project design concept in collaboration with key stakeholders which was included as supporting documentation.
Mount Gambier and District Saleyards Strategy Committee presiding member and councillor Barry Kuhl said the project was still a vital development for the livestock industry in the South East.
“After significant work over the past two years, council are pleased to have now entered into a competitive grants program,” Mr Kuhl said.
“Council remains committed to continuing to best position this project over the course of the grants process in alignment with the Mount Gambier and District Saleyards Masterplan 2018-2028.”
Following further stakeholder engagement, the Saleyards Transformation Project has been renamed as the ‘Mount Gambier Districts Livestock Exchange 2030 Transformation’.
The project also envisages a genuine partnership of commonwealth, state and local government which would transform the saleyards to boost Australian jobs and economy to a $29.7m economic value, fulfilling regional Australia’s potential.
Council and key stakeholders would continue to work alongside Mossop in anticipation of a successful expression of interest result to prepare for the second stage of the application process.
Growing Regions Program round one expression of interest applicants are anticipated to be notified of results mid to late October 2023.
