Swipe Cards for Saleyards

A SWIPE card and intercom system will be implemented at the Scone sale yards following an extraordinary meeting of the Scone and Upper Hunter Regional Saleyards committee today.

The swipe card, which will be provided to all inducted users of the saleyards, activates an intercom which calls a call centre in Newcastle which activates the boom gate.

It was identified as the preferred option as it reduced the risk of non-inducted people entering the site and ensures people are following the Council’s working in isolation procedure.

Concerns about Exploring all Options

Joanne McLoughlin, property and business coordinator for the Upper Hunter Shire Council, was insistent the solution needed to be implemented immediately or Council could be liable with SafeWork NSW.

“We have no control there at the moment,” said Ms McLoughlin.

“We were given 12 months and we’re over 12 months now,” she said.

When challenged by members at the meeting Ms McLoughlin conceded there was no time frame given by SafeWork NSW, but insisted the solution she recommended needed to be implemented immediately.

Dean Taylor, Errol Bates and Peter Townsend all questioned implementing a system without further assessment of other ideas.

Errol Bates asked if they could seek industry best practice and ideas at the upcoming Australian Livestock Markets Association forum in two weeks time before implementing the system.

Dean Taylor agreed saying it would be good to have a bit more time and thought go into the system and less stress than occurred for the way the induction process was managed.

He questioned if they would not all be sitting at the committee meeting in 12 months time regretting they had implemented the system too quickly and not fully thought through other options.

Ms McLoughlin said they had to take immediate steps to implement her recommended system or they could be liable.

“The avdata key does not belong to a person and I was told this morning that they (transport operators) are sharing keys with uninducted people,” said Ms McLoughlin.

The option of a security guard was dismissed by Councillor Collison as being too expensive, which was costed out at 60 hours from Monday to Friday of $222,300 per year.

The cost would have been offset by increasing selling fees by $3 per head and the truck wash by $0.05 per minute.

Councillor Collison recommended Ms McLoughlin order the intercom keys and that the meeting pass the motion.

The motion was carried.

Euthanasia Process

Dean Taylor raised concerns about the euthanasia process at the saleyards citing a recent incident where the process took longer than was ideal.

“There are only two people who can euthanise up there at the moment so it’s an animal welfare issue,” said Mr Taylor.

Ms McLoughlin said the person responsible was not returning her calls and she would continue to follow the issue.