STATEMENT: CANCELLATION OF SALES AT DRLM
In order to prioritise public health and safety, and to ensure the livestock industry remains viable as an essential operation, Dubbo Regional Council (DRC), the Dubbo Stock and Station Agents (DSSA) and key industry stakeholders have been consulting with NSW Health about the upcoming sales at the Dubbo Regional Livestock markets (DRLM), and have made the decision to cancel two weeks of upcoming sales scheduled from Monday 6 September.
This means that the scheduled sheep sale for Monday 6 & Monday 13 September, and the prime cattle sale on Thursday 9 & 16 September will not proceed.
In the best interest of animal welfare, this week’s rescheduled prime cattle sale set for new time of 9am on Saturday 4 September will still proceed; however, there will be very strict conditions placed on people who are attending this sale. This includes very limited access, limited staffing and rapid onsite COVID-19 testing upon entry. These measures being undertaken are in the best interest the broader livestock industry, the safety of anyone who attends the DRLM and the broader community.
On the advice of NSW Health and the need for industry certainty, this decision has been made after a further two people who had been at the facility in the past week tested positive for COVID-19. We are working closely with NSW Health to identify close and casual contacts. However, as a precaution, anyone who attended the cattle sale on Thursday 26 August or sheep sale on Monday 30 August should isolate and get tested.
The DLRM has already undergone a deep clean in line with the standards identified by public health and Safe Work NSW, and is prepared for the limited operations of the Prime Cattle Sale on Saturday 4 September at 9am, adhering to strict COVIDSafe protocols in place at the sale yards.
We are doing all we can to ensure our premises are safe for our customers and staff, by consulting regularly with NSW Health about safe operation of the facility. We know this is a part of running an essential business during a pandemic, and Dubbo Regional Council wants to assure the agricultural industry that our operations are COVIDSafe and there are strict conditions of entry for anyone attending sales.
RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE FOR PRIME CATTLE SALE SATURDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2021:
- Only pre-approved DRLM Staff, DRLM agents, DSSA staff, genuine registered commission/company buyers and carriers are permitted on site. Pre-approval attendance to this sale is centrally coordinated by DSSA Secretary.
- There will be a requirement to undertake on-site rapid testing prior to the sale. Instructions will be provided this afternoon (Friday 3 September) to pre-approved attendees.
- Mandatory check-in and fitted face masks are also a condition of entry, in line with NSW Health's Public Health Order.
- There will be no cafe in operation. Strict distancing of buyers, agents and operational staff will be enforced.
Any attendee not adhering to the strict protocols in place will be instructed by management to leave the facility and potentially face further exclusions from DRLM. These protocols are to protect the people who attend the markets, and to ensure the long-term viability of the industry. Please contact your manager or agent should you have any further questions.
Last Edited: 17 Jul 2023