The fate of a new state-of-the-art truck wash facility proposed for Powranna is hinging on support from the federal government, Northern Midlands mayor David Downie says.
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Having secured a $250,000 commitment from the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, the project is now awaiting the results of a $247,000 National Stronger Regions Fund application which would allow construction to get under way.
The facility, which has been earmarked for construction at the Roberts Ltd-owned Powranna Livestock Marketing Complex, has been designed to operate automatically and aims to cater for large rural trucks such as livestock transport vehicles.
Cr Downie said council was expecting a response from the federal government in the near future, having been initially told the grants would announced by the end of July.
He said the truck wash would be used by vehicle operators across the state.
“A lot of work has gone into the facility, and it's a much-needed facility for the livestock carriers industry,” Cr Downie said.
“They need this facility in this central location to stop the spilling of livestock waste on the public roads and make it easier for the stock carriers to be able to wash their trucks out," Cr Downie said.
“There are other truck washes in Tasmania but I think this will be the best facility in the state, I would expect it to be used very extensively.”
Cr Downie said the proposed site was an ideal location for the project.
“The Powranna Road precinct is a really central location with the vehicle activity, the feedlot and the sale yards and everything that's there.
“You've got the feedlot across the other side of the roads and the sale yards there and it's also central to a lot of other stock destinations.”
A steering committee has been established for the project and met for the first time last month, with council appointing general manager Des Jennings as its committee representative.
The committee and also features representatives from project proponents Northern Midlands Business Association, DPIPWE, Roberts Ltd, the Livestock Transporters Association of Tasmania and the TFGA.