WVLX director Rohan Arnold said it had earlier hoped to begin building this month but had delayed the start to incorporate design changes suggested by the 12 livestock agents who had signed licence agreements to use the new facility.

Mr Arnold said the design changes would increase the cost of privately-owned saleyards from $15 million to $16 million.

The changes included doubling the capacity for the bull pens, upgrading the loading ramp and adding a sale ring, principally for the sale of dairy cows, he said.

Mr Arnold said the delay meant “an aggressive target” had been set to have the new saleyards completed and open in time for weaner sales early next year.

The weather over the next 10 months would play a big part in whether the target would be achieved, he said.

Mr Arnold said the 12 agents who had signed agreements with WVLX were located throughout the south-west and included one from Warrnambool, as well as others from Hamilton, Camperdown and Colac.

“We are very pleased to have a Warrnambool agent on board,” he said.

The privately-owned saleyards will compete strongly for cattle supplies with the Warrnambool saleyards, which are owned by Warrnambool City Council.

Mr Arnold said the new saleyards would give beef producers more options about where to sell their cattle. He has said it would be up to cattle producers, through their agents, to decide where their cattle would be sent.