Emphasising the role that tourism has been playing in the western Queensland economy, local government minister, Stirling Hinchliffe described the viewing platform at the Blackall Saleyards as having the potential to be a real tourist attraction when he opened it on Wednesday.
The platform has been giving patrons and visitors alike a birds-eye perspective on cattle sales for some months, thanks to $54,000 from the Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program.
Combined with Blackall-Tambo Regional Council funds, it made for a $90,000 project.
“The viewing platform is already showing off what a fantastic facility the saleyards is and it’s giving first-timers a unique view of all the sales action,” Mr Hinchliffe said. “It has the potential to be a real tourist attraction as a centrepiece for saleyards tours, offering visitors to this fantastic part of Queensland even more reason to stay longer.”
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The yards were built in the mid-1970s and have undergone a million dollar upgrade to cater for an anticipated 120,000 cattle each year.
According to the region’s mayor, Andrew Martin, it was a way of sharing what was an integral part of the food chain with people who’d never experienced a live sale before.
Mr Hinchliffe said that wherever he’d been in western Queensland, people had highlighted the importance of the tourism industry to the future of their communities.
“We've got to promote that in every way,” he said. “As we've showed here today with this viewing platform, agriculture and tourism aren’t mutually exclusive, they're actually complementary.”
Mr Martin praised the state government’s Works for Queensland program, saying it had helped make Blackall’s facility “an even more premier saleyard”.
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Mr Hinchliffe said it was something councils would see more of, thanks to a decision last week to bring forward $100m worth of works across regional Queensland rather than wait until the 2019-20 financial year.
He said it was done to respond to an ongoing need to support employment in regional parts.
”The council here has very intelligently committed funds to partner with their own commitments, on projects like the restoration of the pool here.
“The most important thing is that it supports the workforce they have.”
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
