The saleyards and showgrounds at Clermont could be in for a spruce up as the regional council chews over a major revitalisation project for the precinct.
Beef and agriculture play a major role in Clermont and surrounding areas and the Isaac Regional Council has formed an advisory committee to consider how the town might meet the needs of these industries in the future.
Isaac Regional Council Mayor Anne Baker said the project would ultimately develop a 20-year master plan for the development of the saleyards and showgrounds, which are home to one of the state's oldest regional shows.
However, she stressed that the revitalisation project was still very much in its early stages.
"Agriculture employs 5.4 per cent of the Isaac region’s regional workforce and we’ve got a $212 million beef industry," she said.
"The master plan is a 20-plus year plan aimed at identifying signature projects in addition to covering early works including water, electricity and IT capabilities for the whole precinct."
In September members of the revitalisation project advisory committee met with the Clermont Rodeo and Show Society to discuss options for the initiative.
Ideas discussed at the meeting included building a new spelling yard for the sale area, building new horse stalls at the precinct and upgrading the entrance to the rodeo.
Bigger-picture ideas included building a new two-storey function centre between the rodeo ring and the main arena.
Cr Baker said the initiative was aimed at "future-proofing" iconic regional events and complementing the region's strong beef industry.
All proposals would be circulated widely for community consultation, she said.
"The master plan will be subject to an extensive community engagement program before it is adopted by council," she said.
Cr Baker added that it was an “exciting time” to be thinking about the future development of the showgrounds precinct.
