The Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Queensland (LRTAQ) has urged a council to prioritise repairs to a truck washdown site.
The Dalby truck washdown facility has been out of action for seven months. With livestock transporters required to manage effluent under the Effluent Code of Practice, the LRTAQ says the lack of washdown facilities is leading to unnecessary costs and challenges in the industry.
The LRTAQ says the Western Downs Regional Council must prioritise repairs to the facility.
Currently, the centre processes 5,000 to 7,000 head of cattle each week, yet transporters are forced to travel long distances, at their own expense, to access washdown facilities.
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The LRTAQ says repairs were set to begin in mid-April, but ongoing delays have continually pushed the timelines back.
The association says the Dalby facility is also one of the 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,” the LRTAQ says.
“LRTAQ has long advocated for more and better-maintained washdown facilities across Queensland. The expectation for transporters to comply with regulations without access to proper infrastructure is both unfair and unsustainable.”
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