It allows them to comply with strict biosecurity laws when passing onto properties and to avoid fines for contaminated runoff from their vehicles.

Goulburn already has a truckwash at the local saleyard but its $1 per minute charge is almost prohibitively expensive. It compares with around 45 to 55 cents per minute at Moss Vale and for some, the trek north along the Hume is inconvenient but worthwhile.  

Livestock carrier Fred Troutman (pictured) says washing out a B-double truck over two and a half hours in Goulburn costs about $180. Over the past year he has spent $35,000 on this activity alone. Indeed, local carriers have suffered under much higher charges at Goulburn, reaching a peak of $2.50 per minute in 2007.

Previously, the saleyard facility was open on sale days and an extra half-day. But now weekly cattle and sheep sales have dried up as Yass has seized competition. Owner Bill Vowles says staff are nevertheless available if carriers want to use the Goulburn truckwash.

But it provides little certainty for an industry with big dollars at stake. Mr Troutman has taken the initiative, seizing on rarely available government grant funding for such projects and pushing the case before the council. 

The council should be commended for coming on board. It will apply for a $1.3 million slice of a $10m kitty allocated by the State and Federal Governments. If successful, it will more than pay for itself with extra business potentially coming off the Hume Highway.

It also feeds into strategies to strengthen agriculture in the area by facilitating more efficient movement of trucks through road and bridge loads.

Southern Meats abattoir is the logical location for the truckwash.  As a high quality export abattoir, biosecurity is uppermost. They also have plenty of wastewater to wash out vehicles.

The wheels are in motion with surveying and engineering assessments already underway. Building the infrastructure will be the most expensive part but it’s a worthwhile investment.

We cannot afford to wait for greater certainty regarding the future of Goulburn saleyard.