Permit seeks Lardner Park saleyards facility

A planning application seeking to develop a saleyards facility, that will primarily cater for calf markets at Lardner Park, is being considered by Baw Baw Shire.

The application, submitted by Auld Planning and Project on behalf of Lardner Park, is currently on public exhibition.

The application seeks to use the land for a saleyard facility.

While the application proposes a permanent use, the submission states the use is only expected to be required until a new permanent, dedicated saleyard facility is developed in West Gippsland.

Currently the weekly calf market held at Warragul Saleyards will lose its home when the Victorian Livestock Exchange closes the facility at the end of March. Fortnightly dairy sales at the facility also will cease.

However, in a bid to save both sales, Lardner Park is seeking to develop a 48 metre by 13.5 metre shed on its Burnt Store Rd property.

“The closure of the Warragul Saleyards will have a significant impact on the local dairy farming industry. The calf market provides a means for farmers to receive competitive prices for calves, and also for farms to buy calves to rear, the application states.

“The dairy market is significant to enable farmers to buy replacement dairy cows. It is vital that these two important sales remain in Baw Baw Shire to serve the dairy and wider agricultural industry.”

The $120,000 project seeks to use the facility for up to 400 calves at a weekly Monday sale; and, a maximum of 250 dairy cattle at a dairy sale twice a month.

The maximum annual throughput will be 7450 calves and 2500 dairy cattle.

No other livestock such as sheep or horses will be sold at the site.

Cattle sales will not occur or will be re-scheduled when more than 1000 people are expected to be on-site for other Lardner Park events at the same time.

A traffic report in the application expects there could be up to 140 light vehicles and three trucks associated with the weekly calf market and up to 50 light vehicles and 40 truck movements for dairy cattle sales.

The property is zoned rural activity and a permit is required to use the land for a saleyard.

The application said the proposed use would have a limited impact on the amenity of the surrounding area, including nearby houses.

Submissions relating to the permit application close next Wednesday, February 17.