ABOVE: Agents in action at NRLX.
Susanna Freymark
The pool of agents using the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange (NRLX) in Casino could grow from five to seven.
This was discussed along with other aspects of the draft NRLX Business Plan at the Richmond Valley Council meeting last night, Tuesday, December 20.
Agents from Casino Auctioneers Association were in the public gallery at the council meeting.
NRLX operations manager Brad Willis said the plan outlines how an agent would put in an expression of interest in obtaining a three-year agent licence agreement.
Before 2020, agents got their licence year by year, Mr Willis said.
A three-year licence agreement has been in place since then. The plan is to open up the saleyards to more agents.
“Previously I’ve only had five agents,” Mr Willis said.
“We’ll go to market and run an EOI and have seven licences instead of five.”
This would allow for an impartial, open and competitive process aimed at growing the NRLX as a business.
He said it was critical the council kept the marketplace competitive as NRLX users will be compelled to use one of the licensed agents when they choose to sell through the saleyards.
“We’re changing the agent fee from $1 per head (of cattle sold) to 0.2% (of the sale price),” Mr Willis said.
This means when cattle are selling well, everyone benefits and when prices drop the fee drops for agents. They, cattle producers and the NRLX are all impacted when prices are down, he said.
Council general manager Vaughan Macdonald said vendors have contributed most of the fees to the NRLX business.
The council had been looking at cost sharing between vendors and agents since the completion of the $15 million upgrade.
He said since the introduction of vendor charges based on livestock prices in 2020, there had been no increase to vendor sale fees. He said this and the council’s decision to fix fees for a further three years showed significant support of the beef industry.
“These fees will remain fixed to June 2026,” Mr Macdonald said.
The business plan also included the appointment of a dedicated animal welfare officer.
IndyNR.com asked Casino Auctioneers Association president Andrew Summerville for comment. He declined.
The 2023-2024 Draft NRLX Revenue Policy will be on public exhibition until 4pm on Tuesday, February 28.
Give your feedback
Anyone can make a written submission during the exhibition period by sending it to Richmond Valley Council,
By post – Locked Bag 10 Casino NSW 2470
By email – council@richmondvalley.nsw.gov.au
By hand –at council’s customer service centres in Casino or Evans Head
Online – by completing an online submission form on the council’s website
and then