Geelong Council has a lot of explaining to do over its decision to close the town’s saleyards. The Geelong saleyards is the only outlet for small landholders who don’t have the capacity to transport livestock to industry standards. But now, they are being shafted so the land can be rezoned for residential properties.
Livestock producers feel let down by what they feel is a disgraceful effort to marginalise farmers, especially given the council has not offered any alternative solution for producers to take their animals to market once the yards close at the end of August.
The council – which has been in administration since early last year – consistently failed to listen to livestock producers before making the decision to permanently close the yards.
The Victorian Farmers Federation recently held a farmers forum in Geelong and the feedback was clear: producers are fed up with the administrators. Their frustration is palpable.
Many are questioning if the council even cares about its rural ratepayers.
Farmers pay their rates and they deserve to get some benefit, so they can’t believe a decision as fundamental as closing the yards would be made without a proper process of consultation.
Producers’ main concern is that any move to shut down the yards without a viable alternative marketplace could jeopardise the state government’s $17 million investment in improving livestock traceability.
Without a facility servicing the Geelong surrounds, we could see a grey market develop that can’t be monitored by a government department that is under-resourced. We could also see issues on the highways as these producers struggle to get their small lots to market
A lot of the frustration stems from the belief that the yards are only closing because of the council’s own mismanagement – that they let it fall into disrepair.
Producers feel let down by the administrators’ neglectful attitude.
The Victorian Farmers Federation is working with state and local governments to expedite an innovative solution for livestock producers that may result in an integrated supply chain in the Geelong area.
What we now need is for Geelong Council to come to the party and work with us to develop a solution that will be of value to the region’s producers.
