Council owned sale yards such as the Coota Saleyards are being faced with new responsibilities under the federal government’s laws surrounding the movement of heavy vehicles.
The ‘Chain of Responsibility’ laws relate to the movement of heavy vehicles, many of which are used to cart stock to and from sale yards. Council’s will now be treated as ‘loading managers’ under laws administered by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. Mayor of Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council Abb McAlister has declared the move a cost shift and highlighted how state and federal governments are pushing more costs on to Councils and rate payers.
He said “We shouldn’t have to use use ratepayers funds for what is a policing role, we’re not police. Council would have to employ someone and it would be a full-time specialist and job and would probably cost council $150,000 a year once you put them in a vehicle.” Councillor McAlister said council could handle the situation but called on funding to be provided for the new laws.
He said, “We’ve never had anything to do with loading before, we simply provide the facility and look after the animals’ welfare and check they’re right to load.” Variations can occur in the weight of trucks due to fueling and weather conditions. If animals are rained upon while on a truck it could cause the truck to weigh more due to the wet sheep.
