WorkSafe has ordered all ground level walkways at the Warrnambool saleyards must be assessed by a structural engineer after the collapse of a concrete walkway last week.

A Warrnambool City Council spokesman said the inspections were being carried out.

"That process is underway," he said.

"If a walkway requires repair or replacement that work will be carried out.

"In the meantime, alternative access arrangements have been made ahead of Wednesday's prime sale and Friday's store sale.

"Patrons can also take part in the sales online via StockLive," he said.

Earlier: The Warrnambool saleyards are expected to host two sales this week despite a concrete walkway collapsing last Wednesday.

Warrnambool Livestock Agents Association president Jack Kelly said the concrete walkways would not be used but it was planned that sales would go ahead at the South West Livestock Exchange as scheduled on Wednesday and then Friday.

"There are other options and at this stage the sales are definitely going ahead," he said.

"We won't be using the concrete walkways but we'll definitely be having sales.

"There's a meeting at 4pm today involving the exchange supervisor and the agents and we'll know more after that meeting."

Mr Kelly acknowledged that WorkSafe was the overriding authority.

"And we'll be taking guidance from them," he said.

"The regular Wednesday sale is still on and there's a store sale on Friday. The plan is that both of those will go ahead."

The livestock exchange, Warrnambool City Council and WorkSafe have been contacted for comment.

It is understood that access to certain areas of the saleyards are currently blocked to the public and there are meeting this morning involving council and livestock exchange officials.

The South West Livestock Exchange is operated by the Warrnambool City Council and a council spokesman said last week that on Wednesday morning a section of a concrete walkway cracked and dropped about 30cm.

"Several people were standing on the walkway at the time. There were no reports of injury," he said.

"WorkSafe has inspected the site and the council is working with structural engineers to look at the entire section of walkway and the best course of action.

"We apologise to our clients, particularly those on the walkway at the time and who endured a brief but unsettling experience," he said.

Witnesses described the collapse of a concrete walkway at the Warrnambool saleyards as being "like an earthquake".

One of up to a dozen people on the walkway at the time of the incident said there was a tremor before the walkway collapsed.

"They were bidding on a pen. There was a tremor and then everyone was holding on," he said.

"It was just like an earthquake."

Another witness said there was a loud noise.

"Then the walkway just collapsed and people went to ground," he said.

"Christ there was an unbelievable noise. Everyone got out of it unscathed. They were very lucky. It's clearly been deteriorating for a while," he said.

It's understood no one was injured in the incident.

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