Plans are being finalised to move northern wool sales from Yennora near Sydney to Goulburn in southern NSW.

INDUSTRY plans to establish a wool-selling centre in the New South Wales regional city of Goulburn were laid bare today with the NSW Government’s announcement of a $1.4 million grant to AWH Ltd.

The leading third-party logistics and warehousing specialist has received in-principle agreement for the move to Goulburn from most major wool-selling brokers at the current Yennora centre outside Sydney, and is currently negotiating lease agreements.

The NSW Government today announced that it had granted $1.4 million for AWH Pty Ltd, Goulburn – to help establish the Goulburn Wool Auction Innovation Hub — a first-of-kind, fully digital wool auction and handling facility.

The media statement said the move will shift a core component of Australia’s wool auction system from metropolitan-centred infrastructure toward a decentralised regional model. The hub will better align auctions with wool production areas, improve supply-chain efficiency and provide a scalable model for industry, the government said.

Sheep Central believes the move has been deemed necessary due to potentially prohibitive future rental costs and the imminent redevelopment of the Yennora site. AWH Ltd, owned 50 percent by Nutrien Ag Solutions — currently holds the Yennora sub-lease on the property owned by developers Stockland — and has been consulting with brokers and the Goulburn Mulwaree Council on the move. Sheep Central has sought a statement on the moved from AWH Ltd.

The AWH grant is part of a $105.5 million co-investment with the Minns Government in fourteen innovative projects to modernise and grow the state’s agricultural industries, boosting local jobs, regional economies and increased productivity across the agriculture sector.

The NSW Government is investing $28 million through the Agriculture Industries Innovation and Growth Program while the funding recipients will contribute $77.5 million, bringing the total investment to over $100 million.

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said agriculture is one of the most important industries for our state.

“The sector contributes billions of dollars to our economy, underpins thousands of jobs in regional communities and puts food on our tables.

“This co-investment model unlocks enormous potential for our state’s primary industries, driving private investment in projects that advance the sector and deliver real benefits for regional communities across New South Wales.”

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said investing in agriculture means investing in the strength of our regional communities.

“When farming businesses do well, the whole community benefits – from local shops to transport operators and service providers.

“Supporting this and the other 13 projects announced today helps create local jobs, strengthen supply chains and set our regional industries up for sustained economic growth,” she said.

Other funding announced include $3,944,297 to Eringoarrah Pty Ltd to construct an on-farm off-grid processing facility on Eringoarrah Station to be capable of processing 130-head of livestock (60 cattle, 50 sheep, 20 pigs) weekly.

For full details on other project funding click here.