Gunnedah Shire Council has resolved to allocate $60,000 to develop a long-term strategic plan and precinct master plan for the Gunnedah Saleyards.
The motion was resolved at the the council’s ordinary meeting on Wednesday, with the funds to be allocated in the 2018/19 operational plan.
The aim is to engage “professional expertise to assist in the finalisation of a revised overarching strategy for the saleyards facility and an associated precinct masterplan”.
At the meeting, the council’s chief financial officer Damien Connors said it would be the “first precinct master plan for the facility” and “the engagement needs a specific set of skills such as we don’t possess”.
The plans would “help guide the future direction of the operation or facilitate the delivery of the identified strategic outcomes for such”.
Mr Connors said it was “very hard to estimate cost at this time” but he was “erring on the side of a higher amount” so as not to mislead the council.
The motion was moved by councillor Colleen Fuller and seconded by councillor Gae Swain.
“I think it’s urgent that we do it,” Cr Fuller said.
