Member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson announced a total of $995,300 in funding to support a new livestock and bitumen truck wash at Narrandera, as well as improvements at both the Cowra and Cootamundra saleyards.

This work is part of the NSW government’s Fixing Country Truck Washes program, which is set to build an efficient freight transport network across regional NSW.

Narrandera Shire Council had applied for the funding to have the truck wash located there. 

Currently, a farmer that wants to send cattle to JBS feedlot, in order to meet the animal welfare legislation will essentially need to send an empty truck to either the Griffith or Wagga truck wash facility before reloading.

This is a similar case when cattle are transported from feedlot to abattoir, or while bringing fresh cattle to farm.

This results in longer waiting time in truck wash facilities, inefficiencies due to 200km of round trip travel, driver fatigue, litter on road and weeds on roadsides.

Council’s application noted the ideal location of Narrandera at the intersection of the Newell and Sturt Highways.

Apart from bitumen trucks and livestock trucks, there are several other businesses in Narrandera and Leeton shires, including agricultural products supply, fertiliser supply, sawmill trucks, trucks in juice factories, poultry farm trucks, Narrandera/Leeton shire jet pather and other heavy construction machinery and general freight trucks that need to be washed time-to-time. 

Ms Hodgkinson said the initiative was designed to enhance the safety and productivity of truck wash-out facilities, as well as provide environmental benefits across regional NSW.

“All projects underwent a detailed evaluation process,” she said. 

“All applicants had to demonstrate that their upgraded or new facility could lawfully dispose of, or sustainably reuse, collected waste water. So this announcement is testament to the hard work of those who were involved in submissions.”