Yards will sell ... but not yet

GEELONG’S council has not budged from its plan to close the Geelong Saleyards, but has given farmers two months to fight for the survival of the complex.

The historic North Geelong yards were given a stay of execution last night, with the administrators backing away from an immediate closure of the facility.

However the administra- tors remain committed to pursuing a staged closure of operations at the saleyards, which was proposed by the former council last year.

With an estimated $916,000 maintenance and upgrade bill hanging over the City of Greater Geelong’s head, the council’s leaders have vowed to look at other options to improve safety at the site.

A decision on the future of the Weddell Rd complex — which is shut indefinitely due to health and safety concerns — will not be made before a public meeting on November 22.

Frustrated farmers have warned by that time a majority of prime lambs will have been sold elsewhere.

Chief administrator Kathy Alexander said the council had not wanted to enact an immediate closure and the twomonth period would provide a chance to find some answers.

“That gives us some time to look at ... some transitional solutions,” she said last night.

“We can look at what the options are and what the costs are.”

A plea by Surf Coast candidate Heather Wellington to defer a decision until after next month’s elections, to allow neighbouring councils to have a say in the process, proved influential.

She argued that 26 per cent of all transactions at the saleyards emanated from the Surf Coast Shire, while more than half of the total stock sold came from Colac Otway and ACROSS 2 Bid more wildly to get a

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Administrator Peter Dorling said the saleyards had been discussed at a G21 meeting last Friday, with the issue to be at the top of the agenda for incoming councillors.

In the interim, Colac Saleyards have committed to introducing sheep sales on the last Thursday of every month to cater to Geelong region farmers. The first event is scheduled to be held next week.

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sort of dance music wouldn’t work, with buyers already committed to a sale in Shepparton on the same day.

The future of the 147-year old saleyards was thrust back on the agenda, due to the decision to indefinitely close them for sheep and cattle sales five weeks ago.

The council has estimated that the $916,000 suite of works would take up to six months to complete.

The saleyards have recorded losses in the past eight financial years.