The grand scale of the freight hub at Morven has been revealed after two months of yard-building onsite on the eastern side of the town.
The yards are the first stage in a $9 million-plus project that will integrate transport options to simplify the movement of cattle from northern and western locations to various destinations.
According to Murweh Shire corporate services manager Ken Timms, the completed yards will have the capacity for two trains worth of cattle, or 4000 head.
"It's a collector point for cattle to be transported by road or rail to feedlots and meatworks, and will also allow for A-B double truck loadings for NSW destinations," he said.
Related: Work starts on Morven freight hub
Carbarlah business Site Welding was given the job of yard construction and have been at work at Morven for eight weeks.
In that time Barry Parton and sons Kane and Brock have constructed eight 30m by 17m spell pens, 15 of the 12m by 7.5m drafting pens, and six 6m by 7.5m transfer pens, with the help of Charleville's Ross Taylor for welds, and Young's Welding for gates and hay feeders.
While Mr Parton has previously worked on the train unloading facility at Oakey and other work at Dinmore, the livestock transport interchange at Morven is the largest job he's undertaken to date.
Kane Parton said they estimated they'd be on site for another six weeks, working on the double deck loading ramp as well as a separate double deck unloading ramp, and building gates and laneways leading up to the planned weighbridge.
Some 220m of walkways above the pens are part of the job still to be constructed as well.
"It's state of the art, not just for the rail aspect but for its spelling ability," Murweh mayor Shaun 'Zorro' Radnedge said.
"I'm very excited for the prospects it holds for south west Queensland.
"There have been conversations about whether it will work or not but I think it will play a major role for cattle from the north west.
"It's probably not going to suit a local grazier with four decks of cattle 50km away but the biggest thing is that it gives graziers options, it has lots of dimensions.
"And it's on arterial highways so it's well sited."
There is plenty of work still to be done before the hub is complete, with tenders out for the administration and ablution building, a fodder shed, and a two-bay washdown block.
The livestock freight contract is still to be decided and Roadtek will be constructing the turnout lane into the facility.