MOVES to build a new south-west regional livestock selling centre have stepped up a gear, with the proponent company inviting stakeholders to discussions on a suitable site next month.
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Warrnambool City and Corangamite Shire councils and stock agents’ associations linked to the two councils’ municipal saleyards have been asked by NSW-based Regional Infrastructure Proprietary Limited (RIPL) to nominate representatives for a proposed new committee.
The company hopes a short-list of sites can be compiled by June, followed by a decision next financial year and applications for statutory approvals for what would be a project costing up to $20 million.
RIPL wants its proposed selling centre to have a minimum 100,000 head annual throughput and dominate western Victoria’s cattle catchment from Geelong to the South Australian border.
The company hopes a joint committee would reach general agreement on an issue that has divided community opinions for at least seven years since the city council first proposed finding a private operator to build a major new selling facility and close the municipal operation.
Corangamite’s council also entered the ring in recent years with its own moves to get a suitable private operation.
Both councils have started formal expressions of interest discussions with RIPL, but no agreement has been reached.
Moyne Shire Council also entered the fray last year to undertake its own research on a suitable regional venue.
RIPL’s managing director Garry Edwards told The Standard yesterday key stakeholders had been asked to join his company on a committee which would hold its first meeting by mid-February.
“I expect the committee would identify sites by April to be assessed and have a short-list by the end of the financial year,” he said.
He said Warrnambool and Corangamite councils were bound by expressions of interest agreements that if RIPL built a regional selling centre the municipal saleyards would cease when the private venture started operating.
Warrnambool’s agreement stipulates the new operation must be within 40 kilometres of the city boundary, while Corangamite wants it within its boundaries.
City councillor Brian Kelson will try again to save the local saleyards, with a notice of motion on Monday night calling on the council to tell RIPL it would continue to manage and operate the municipal operation “in the foreseeable future” and had no objection to a new regional selling centre running in direct competition.
