THE long-awaited report into the Millicent Saleyards has recommended a slew of options for the site’s future, including selling or closing the facility following losses of almost $700,000 over the last six years.
Wattle Range Council discussed the independent review in confidence at last week’s monthly meeting, which also recommended the continued operation of the facility with losses to be funded by council.
The review, conducted by Victorian-based SED Advisory, outlined increasing saleyard fees and charges, partially developing other areas of the site, and a return to a board of management to include agents and producers.
Councillors heard the total revenue needed to break even under the current cost structure was $362,000 – around 2.3 times the current income levels.
However, the review estimated an annual extended economic contribution beyond the sale of stock to be $1.2m.
While minimal investment into infrastructure has occurred in the last five to 10 years, the cost of bringing the saleyards up to regional standards is likely to be $200,000.
If legislative or environmental standards are altered, potential compliance and competitive infrastructure development will be in the vicinity of $1m.
Elected members voted to note the report without adopting or moving any recommendations.
Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi said council was too close to entering the statutory caretaker period, which begins on September 18, to begin the consultative process on future options.
“The recommendations made in the report would require substantial consultation with the community,” he said.
“Given the time frame between now and the caretaker period, where major decisions are not permitted by council, any changes would not be able to be undertaken within that time frame.
“If a staged closure was rushed through by the current council, it would in fact cross over into the term of the next council.
“An immediate closure would not make the time frame and in my experience, would not be accepted by the community that adequate consultation had taken place.
“It would simply be rushed without considering the impact on our local farming community.
“That being considered, we’d have to remain competitive with other saleyards and at the moment we are being competitive.”
Mr Gandolfi said the $1.2m cash injection to the region by saleyard users needed to be considered in future deliberations.
“The benefit to the local community is beyond the farming sector,” he said.
“It’s a multiplier through the expenditure that might be accumulated directly at the saleyards.
“It also stimulates the local economy through employment at the saleyards, which flows onto the local community through expenditure in other areas.”
Mr Gandolfi, who will not contest his position at the November local government election, said it was his personal belief the future of the saleyards be a key election issue.
“The full report will be made public shortly and members of the public, as well as candidates, will be fully informed and will be able to make fully informed comments and decisions on what they think should occur with the Millicent Saleyards,” he said.
“It’s the ultimate consultation.”
