THE Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange in South Australia's South East could be sold, following a surprise offer from a mysterious would-be buyer.
The proposal has sprung from 'left field', seeking to either purchase or lease the complex, which is in the top 10 nationally for livestock throughput.
The offer is being further explored by its owner, the Naracoorte Lucindale Council, however local sources say that any decision is far from being a foregone conclusion.
Naracoorte Lucindale Council’s director, operations and economic development and SA saleyards association president, Steve Loane, told Stock & Land Council has watched very closely the Warrnambool saleyards debate unfold.
As a result of this bitterness, he said it had been decided to open the debate to extensive community consultation, with a 'whatever happens, happens' outcome now expected.
Mr Loane said the unnamed, interested party, which is believed to be Adelaide-based, has made an initial inspection of the Naracoorte facility.
The SE saleyards have only very recently been awarded grant funding of $1.85 million, won under the Federal Government's National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns project.
Allocated on a matching dollar-for-dollar basis, the project, if undertaken, could see soft-fall and a roof built at Naracoorte, with the resultant water catchment treated in an on-site facility and then piped four kilometres for use in the town’s garden and reserve areas.
The offer to purchase or lease the Naracoorte saleyards, which is operated as a standalone break-even business, has some potential benefits to be considered, Mr Loane said.
It would produce substantial annual income that could be directed into other community projects, while reducing significantly Council’s potential liabilities.
Naracoorte Combined Agents' president Richard Harvie believes the proposed offer, which surfaced only last week, was not unforeseeable.
He said the council’s risks in the areas of EPA, OH&S and finance were huge.
“They say its has been a break-even business but the amount money that is retained for the saleyards use and to make the further upgrades to bring it up to required industry standards, is still insufficient," Mr Harvie said.
"It needs an injection of funds to keep these upgrades progressing but some one will have to pay, and this will result in higher fees and these will be paid by its users, its' as simple as that”.
"As agents, we are open to all ideas, however our initial concerns are whether it will be an open book tender process and where other parties will be invited to participate.
Then we can focus on whether it’s the right direction to take."
