LAST Friday’s cattle sale was the first held under the new roof at the Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange (HRLX).

The project started in 2018 when the Southern Grampians Shire conducted a review of operations where it held one-on-one discussions with key stakeholders – buyers, agents and producers – to better understand the facility.

At the November 2018 council meeting, councillors committed $1.3 million to roof cattle yards one to 99.

In March 2019, the shire received $715,000 from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions fund and construction followed in June that year.

The total project cost was $1.8 million and while construction was delayed by permit approvals and COVID-19, locals stock agents were excited to have the roof up and utilising the facilities.

Nutrien livestock agent, Sam Savin said it was “fantastic” to be holding cattle sales under a roof at Hamilton.

“I’m very excited,” he said.

“We’ve finally got it finished and we sold under it for the first time (last) Friday.”

Mr Savin said there were many benefits to have a roofed selling centre and hoped it would encourage more people to sell through HRLX rather than other south-west saleyards.

“Hopefully it gets a few more cattle back into Hamilton,” he said.