A SPLINTER group of disgruntled stock agents has threatened Ballarat City Council with legal action over its handling of the new Ballarat saleyards project at Miners Rest.
At a briefing forum organised by the Council and chaired by Ballarat City major Cr Des Hudson on Wednesday, the meeting sought to update stock agents, the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) and producers on the progress made in readiness for the new Miners Rest saleyards development, northwest of the City.
However before the meeting procedures could be outlined the interjecting group claimed the meeting had been called in secrecy, and at short-notice, in order to frustrate the efforts of those seeking to attend.
Group spokesperson, Michael Madden representing the Ballarat Region Saleyards Action Group said that stock agency firms TB White & Sons, HF Richardson & Co, Charles Stewart and Company and LM & HM Chibnall had, through their lawyer, Dean Clinque, requested a public meeting be called to address their concerns.
One such concern involves an anti-competitive relationship existing between current the saleyards manager and developer of the Miners Rest saleyards project, Regional Infrastructure Pty Ltd (RIPL) and its half-share owner and Ballarat corporate agency firm, Landmark.
Mr Madden claimed that as the owner of current Latrobe St saleyard site Ballarat Council had a responsibility to ensure the future of the saleyard be protected, and the agents that rely on the saleyards for their businesses would be adversely impacted by their actions.
“You are blindly marching towards the demise of the saleyards,” Mr Madden read from a prepared statement.
“Our group of agents will not be moving to a RIPL-run saleyards.
“That’s 50pc of the current business will not be moving – almost half a billion dollars in economic activity that is at risk.
“We cannot and will not work with RIPL as they are owned by one of our competitors - Landmark.
“The relationship between RIPL and Landmark makes it impossible to compete on a level playing field.
“We are at risk to predatory pricing by RIPL in the setting of fees and charges on behalf of their parent company Landmark.
“This conducted is illegal.”
TB White and Sons co-principal Gerard White said he supported Mr Madden’s comments
“Des, (City mayor) we want you and Council to be crystal clear about the seriousness of this situation,” Mr White said.
“We are being backed into a corner and we are fighting for the survival of our businesses.
“What we will do is take legal action to recoup any losses that arise as a result of this decision by Council.
“As the mayor of this Council you are directly contributing to that loss.
“We hold you personally responsible and will be including you as a party to that legal action.”
Cattle buyer and Ascot farmer Lea Chibnall said the real problem started when Landmark took control of the Ballarat saleyards.
“This placed the other non-corporate agents in an impossible position,” Mr Chibnall said.
“This is now an ACCC matter and has an involvement in the Senate Red Meat Inquiry.
“Is Council were aware that agents have been to Canberra on this matter and the fact ACCC are now involved and have an interest in it should in itself place a whole new face on the matter.”
Mr Chibnall asked if the agents carried through with their threat not to transfer their business to the new Miner Rest saleyard might the Council also be sued by RIPL for not being able to deliver all the agents (and their businesses) as a package.
On delivering these statements the disgruntled group departed the forum taking no further part.
THE AFTERMATH
ON Thursday following, what was described as a most informative meeting where several prior concerns over the design and construction plans were revolved, descending agents said to be party to Ballarat Region Saleyards Action Group (BRSAG) began to distance themselves from the previous abrasive statements.
HF Richardson livestock manager Bernie Nevins said he was totally blind-sided and caught unaware by comments made by Mr Madden, representing BRSAG
“I didn’t know these comments were to be made,” Mr Nevins said.
“I am disappointed and disagreed with the severity of the comments.
“Sure, we were part of an initial group that were labelled as “Rebels” who had raised concerns but we have never said we wont relocate to a new saleyards.”
The Ballarat City Council have made it clear that after the new saleyards are built the old facility will be demolished with the site cleared and handed back to the State Government as a condition of the original Crown Land grant.
“They have washed their hands of the saleyards and have no interest in a Joint Venture with private enterprise,” Mr Nevins said.
Charles Stewart & Co director, Peter McConachy said his company’s original concerns were based on capacity, size and floor composition of the new facility “and most of these issues are being addressed to our satisfaction”.
“Another sticking point which is a concern for all agents and clients are the proposed fees to be charged,” Mr McConachy said.
“RIPL has advised that as soon as their application to the EPA has been approved the fee structure will become much clearer.
“We all know that new charges will be higher but that’s to be expected when we will have a totally new state of the art facility to the generations to trade in.”
TBW has been contacted for comment.
*Writers note: The comments attributed to Mr Chibnall, a member of the BRSAG were in fact conservation briefing notes of Ballarat beef property manager and Mount Rowan resident, Grant Tillett, who meet with Council CEO Frank Dixon on the day prior to the briefing forum.
Mr Tillett was advised in writing by the Mayor the morning of the meeting he was not welcome to attend the forum to express his opinions, and therefore the author apologizes for wrongly attributing of his comments.
