Battle lines drawn over saleyards

Warrnambool saleyards on Wednesday declared they had the support of all major livestock agencies currently operating at the Caramut Road site.

Warrnambool Stock Agents Association president Jack Kelly said all livestock agencies, including local branches of national agencies such as Landmark, unanimously voted this week to continue putting clients’ stock through the Warrnambool saleyards.

The local agents’ declaration follows Warrnambool City Council’s pledge to continue capital expenditure on the Warrnambool saleyards, or the South West Victorian Livestock Exchange, as it is formally known.

 A roof is to be built over selling pens next year and the saleyards’ computer system has been upgraded.

Warrnambool agents representative on Warrnambool City Council’s saleyards advisory committee Dan Carey said the saleyards received very good feedback from livestock buyers about the operations.

“Livestock buyers and processors have offered their continued support for this facility,” Mr Carey said.

Warrnambool mayor Kyle Gaston said the Warrnambool saleyards were well-run and had built up good relationships with stakeholders involved in the supply and processing chain.

The saleyards are owned by Warrnambool City Council and last financial year contributed an operating surplus of nearly $500,000 to the council. 

Mr Kelly said the saleyards had no plans to change the dates of its livestock sales because of the planned private saleyards at Mortlake.

“We are happy with the Wednesday weekly market (for prime cattle) and store (cattle) sales every month,” Mr Kelly said.

“We are in the right position and going very well.”

The privately-funded $15 million Western Victoria Livestock Exchange planned for Mortlake hopes to operate later this year and expects about 175,000 cattle to be put through in the opening year.

It aims to draw cattle from the region and Geelong, Mount Gambier and Ballarat.