A BOAST by Southern Grampians Shire Council that its Hamilton saleyards services the south-west as far as Warrnambool and Mortlake has not dampened Moyne Shire Council’s determination to find the best location for a new regional selling centre.
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In fact it has sharpened Moyne’s resolve and revealed a possibility of having two major sales venues — one for sheep and another for cattle.
Warrnambool City and Corangamite Shire are reluctant to continue operating their municipal yards in the long term and are looking at private enterprise to take over the role.
More than $4.5 million will be spent during the next four years on upgrading the Hamilton yards to retain its reputation as one of the biggest sheep selling centres in Victoria. Design concepts have been adopted and upgrade work is expected to start by mid-next year.
This is in contrast to Warrnambool City Council, which decided about five years ago it did not want to continue operating municipal saleyards long-term.
“We have done our research and found that our saleyards cater to farmers right across south-west Victoria and south-east Australia,” Southern Grampians Shire’s livestock exchange advisory committee chairman Cr Peter Dark said.
“Hamilton is the geographical centre of the region and provides a range of services to a very large catchment area.”
A map released by the shire shows its livestock catchment area stretches from west of Mount Gambier to east of Warrnambool and north to near Horsham and Ararat.
Moyne mayor James Purcell said his council team was unfazed by the Hamilton revamp plans, and by Warrnambool City and Corangamite Shire councils’ negotiations with a major company Regional Livestock Infrastructure (RIPL) which specialises in regional saleyards.
“We don’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but our council is convinced that this issue must be properly researched to verify the best location,” Cr Purcell said.
“Hamilton’s yards cater mainly for sheep. What we are investigating is the best location for a cattle selling centre.”
He and Cr Dark conceded it would be feasible to have two regional saleyards operating successfully — with Hamilton retaining its role as the major sheep venue.
Moyne has indicated it would pay the whole cost of a proposed professional research project looking at venues and saleyard models.
“We are doing this in the best interest of the regional farming community and would like the research done as soon as possible,” Cr Purcell said.
Hamilton’s facility is reputed to generate $22m in direct economic benefits annually and has a throughput of almost a million sheep and 50,000 cattle.
