CITY HALL TO SHUT DOWN SALEYARDS

Council pledges $1m to clean up artefacts, but ...

THE historic Geelong Saleyards will be closed permanently within weeks, while the future of another 19th-century complex in the city remains under a cloud.

Council administrators last night decided to shut the gate on 148 years of history at the North Geelong saleyards, closing it to sheep and cattle traders this month.

The final sheep sale at the site will be held on August 21.

The death knell follows a drawn-out saga that has left users in limbo after the closure of the saleyards last August due to safety concerns.

Money was spent to allow sheep sales to resume in February, but cattle producers have been locked out for the past year.

The immediate future for poultry users and the truck wash facility remain uncertain, with further talks to be held.

But the council has committed to developing a plan for the Weddell Rd precinct, with some of the area to be turned over to public space.

Administrator Peter Dorling said there “was no joy” in the decision to end saleyards operations in North Geelong, but said the facility was not up to standard.

Colac appears to be the preferred alternative option of the council, with Mr Dorling stating the site “was in the mix” of new opportunities being explored.

G21 wants to see Colac developed as a regional livestock facility, with its board calling on both councils to explore what could be done to make the Colac saleyards more accessible.

The administrators last night also vowed to spend up to $1 million to retrieve, clean and store valuable artefacts from the historic Osborne House.

The 159-year-old property has been locked down since mid-April, after the discovery of a widespread mould outbreak.

The council will look to secure a cleaning contractor, and a leased storage site, as it prepares to clean up to 20,000 artefacts contained inside.

The administrators stopped short of committing funds to the repairs of the building, which conservative estimates have placed in the $1.5 million range.

The site, which overlooks Corio Bay, will remain closed while options for its future are developed.

Finance and strategy director Joanne Moloney warned the extent of the mould issue would only become clear once work started.

“It is what we can’t see that we are most concerned about,” Ms Moloney said.