CITY EXPLORES NEW LIVESTOCK SALEYARD PLAN
GEELONG council is ramping up its exploration of opening a new livestock exchange just four years after the Geelong Saleyards were shut, committing $4m to a potential project.
The City of Greater Geelong’s proposed 2021-22 budget includes $150,000 for a feasibility study into a regional livestock and information exchange.
A further $4m was added in forward estimates to build a potential facility — depending on the outcome of the study.
The CoGGs rural and periurban subcommittee was formed in 2018 to explore transition strategies for saleyards services after the contentious closure of the 148-year-old Geelong Saleyards by council administrators in August 2017.
The CoGG last year unveiled plans to transform the historic saleyards site into a housing precinct — including apartments of up to six-storeys — for about 1300 residents.
Sub-committee chair Cr Jim Mason said a regional livestock and information exchange could help fill a gap created by the closure of the saleyards, particularly for small-scale farmers.
“It is closing a gap, and the intention is to try to find a solution to whatever gap there is,” Cr Mason said
“It’s got to the point of saying, can we find a 21st century solution to the problem of the ever-increasing number of small farmers and smaller landholders, which haven’t been addressed by the part-solution of offering the farmers Ballarat and Colac and other areas for their livestock sales — as that’s not practical for a lot of the smaller farmers.”
Cr Anthony Aitken said the city would unlock $4m for the project if it was ticked off by a feasibility study, consultations and planning.
“The issue’s been around since the closure of the saleyards,” Cr Aitken said.
“It’s a bit of a return to our history, in that we want to create and have an opportunity for a livestock exchange in the City of Greater Geelong.
“And the reason why it’s called a livestock and information exchange is because we also want it to become a central focus for rural-based issues and support all the rural community still in Geelong and in our neighbouring municipality.”
Land was bought for the Geelong Saleyards in North Geelong by the Geelong Town Corporation in 1867, and the livestock exchange operated from 1869 until August 21, 2017.
In August 2016, the CoGG closed the saleyards for sheep and cattle sales due to “significant occupational health and safety” issues.
In May 2017, city administrators formally noted an independent saleyards livestock market analysis report, finding a 70 per cent decline in cattle numbers through the saleyards from 2000-2016.
Another independent report estimated repairs to bring the cattle yards to an acceptable standard would cost $2.9m, with the saleyards having recorded losses of more than $200,000 in 2016 and 2015.