By Tony Burch
I AM concerned about Grant District Mayor Richard Sage’s election pitch published in the Border Watch on October 19.
He emphasises his priority is to grow the Glenburnie saleyards into one of the best in the South East and Western Victoria and commits to very large future infrastructure expenditure to do so.
But mayors do not make council strategy, only elected members have that authority.
Western Victoria already has a brand-new saleyard facility costing many millions of dollars that is already designed to do everything Mr Sage would like to do in future with our local legacy saleyard.
I say very long distant future because the Grant Council elected members in 2013 adopted a saleyards asset management plan for the 10-year period 2013-2023 which indicates little planning for the large-scale infrastructure expenditure that would be necessary to meet the mayor’s vision.
Just roofing the cattle yards as Mr Sage is suggesting is likely to cost $4m-$5m, I suspect.
Nor does the council’s long-term saleyards financial plan adopted April 2018 for the 10 years out to 2028 indicate any such large-scale infrastructure spending.
Something, as yet unplanned, that may or might not eventuate for at least 10 years or more into the future is hardly anything to get excited about.
Particularly as it is already happening next door in Western Victoria at the new Mortlake saleyards.
Their strategic plan actually includes drawing large animal numbers from our region and if successful would impact on the Glenburnie site.
In the last 10 years cattle annual throughput at the Glenburnie saleyards peaked in 2008/09 at 129,730 and declined fairly steadily over the 10-year period to a mere 65,685 in the year 2017/18.
A massive 50pc drop.
Conversely the master saleyards plan for the next 10 years to 2028 promises income to increase every year for 10 years and shows an approximately 50pc increase over the period.
History would suggest this is just fanciful, particularly as the plan gives no effective information as to how such a significant increase will be achieved and mentions but does not quantify significant challenges such as direct and online selling, changes to land use and other threats.
The potential threats to the Glenburnie saleyards master plan are substantial.
Our critically important regional primary producers deserve better and more effective planning by Grant District Council.
Authorised by Grant District Council candidate Tony Burch, 324 Yahl Road, Glenburnie SA, 5291
Tony Burch,
Glenburnie
