Charlotte Varcoe
ALTHOUGH the future of the Millicent Saleyards may hang in the balance, there may be a silver lining at the Mount Gambier facility’s future sales.
At the most recent Wattle Range Council meeting, elected members opted to give residents the opportunity to have their say on the saleyards’ future.
An informative preamble and survey will be rolled out to Wattle Range residents in regards to whether the saleyards will close or remain open.
The decision came after numbers at the Millicent yard continued to drop while the amount of work to keep the saleyards in good working order increased.
Grant District Council Mayor Kylie Boston said the concept of the Millicent Saleyards closing was sad but meant more livestock and sales could potentially end up at the Mount Gambier facility.
She said if the sales from the Millicent yard ended up in the Mount Gambier facility, it would help council’s federal funding application for future upgrades.
“Although it is sad if the Millicent yard closes, we will have to just wait and see what happens,” Cr Boston said.
“But we want to keep these livestock sales in the South East and I think that is what is important.”
She said having the sales come to Mount Gambier/Berrin would also contribute to the local economy with more people travelling through town and more sales during sales day.
“It would be a positive [having the sales in Mount Gambier] because it would be money going back to local agents and the whole economy,” she said.
“It would also remain with agents who have a bit of familiarity with the area but the sales would be staying within the South East.”
Cr Boston said the higher numbers would mean more buyers and create a more vibrant market place and a better opportunity for those who attend.
“We encourage people to stick with the auction system because there is a proven track record of setting prices and delivering great results here in Mount Gambier,” she said.
Chairman of Combined Agents Ben Jones said he envisaged a “fly through” effects with the Mount Gambier Saleyards should the Millicent yards close down.
“I think we would have a reaction in our numbers in Mount Gambier because we are in our off period at the moment, but if there is no availability in Millicent then Mount Gambier is the next closest place,” Mr Jones said.
“There is a lot going on at the Mount Gambier Saleyards including the grant we are trying to secure at the moment to further improve the saleyards and we need numbers to help secure what we are doing for the future.
“We are trying to get in front of the curve and in terms of costings and whatnot, everything would add up economically so the greater the throughput here in the yards, the better opportunities and chances we are going to have in securing the funding and financing.”
He said it was possible the numbers may be split between travelling to either Mount Gambier/Berrin or Naracoorte, but either way it was a positive.
“We have got greater numbers and attract a great gallery and prices which has a compounding effect,” Mr Jones said.
“Yards and selling complexes are about numbers which draw purchases and those numbers help secure the future.
“The aim of the game is to have throughput, to build reputation of quality stock and stock that is coming out of here is fit and health but at the end of the day if we are adding additional numbers as a result of another saleyard closing then that is a positive aspect.”
Mr Jones said the potential closure was sad for the Millicent community and he felt for the people affected but reiterated those involved in the Mount Gambier Saleyard transformation project were trying to get on the “front foot” of the wider issue.
