Seven months since the Dalby truck washdown facility was “temporarily closed for repairs”, the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Queensland (LRTAQ) is calling on the local council to get the job done.
“The Western Downs Regional Council must prioritise repairs to the Dalby truck washdown facility,” said LRTAQ.
Dalby is a major Queensland centre for cattle sales, processing 5000-7000 head of cattle a week.
Livestock transporters are required to manage effluent under the Effluent Code of Practice and the LRTAQ says the lack of operational washdown facilities is creating unnecessary costs and challenges in an already demanding industry.
“Transporters are forced to travel long distances – at their own expense – to access washdown facilities,” LRTAQ said.
“While repairs are reportedly set to begin in mid-April, ongoing delays continue to push the timeline back.
“Adding to the frustration, the Dalby facility is one of the most expensive in Queensland, with users charged $1.20 per minute through Avdata. Despite these high costs, little investment has been made to ensure the facility remains operational and well-maintained.”
As a long-time advocate for more and better-maintained washdown facilities across Queensland, LRTAQ added, “The expectation for transporters to comply with regulations without access to proper infrastructure is both unfair and unsustainable.”
Nah, too busy charging people for driving 20 minutes over the “fatigue “limit. No time for silly little things like this.