Warrnambool stock agents are calling on farmers and locals in the region to write to their local councillors to consider keeping the town's local saleyards open.
The Warrnambool city council will be considering whether to invest for upgrade works at the saleyards at a council meeting on November 7.
Nutrien Livestock Warrnambool stock agent Kieran Johnston said the saleyards are a viable business and was one of the only council run businesses that makes money.
"This is one of few council run facilities that actually makes money," he said.
"For me personally, and for many others in farming, I want to support these yards because I am looking at my kids and grandkids future as well as Warrnambool's future."
"It's not just about us as well, it's about the big picture for the town, and there are many businesses who want to keep the future of the saleyards secure."
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Brian O'Halloran stock agent Anthony Mahoney spoke to the gallery about the upcoming meeting at the end of the store sale last week.
"After the good sale that [buyers] have seen here today, we would love to keep this facility open and running like it has been for many years,"
J & J Kelly stock agent Jack Kelly said he appreciated the support farmers and the community have given so far in signing a petition to invest in the saleyards, which received over 700 signatures.
"There is great value for the saleyards remaining, not only for agent's clients and buyers, but in supporting local businesses," he said.
Stock agents have also released a video across social media including representatives of local businesses giving their support.
A collapse of a concrete public walkway in October October 2020, prompted an engineer's review which found almost no part of the yards met current standards.
But it is not only structural issues the saleyards are contending with, as study commissioned by the council shows the economic impact of the Warrnambool saleyards is now one third of what it was more than a decade ago.
The economic impact of the saleyards is now only one third of what it was little more than a decade ago, according to a study commissioned by the city council.
A confidential report obtained by Stock & Land, completed by the AEC Group, found the saleyards now contributed $10.4 million in business revenue - down from $34.1 million in 2008.
That's 0.22 per cent of Warrnambool's gross regional product.
The study found the main contributor to the activity was agent commissions, comprising 68.6 per cent of the impact.
The saleyards have been in decline since the mid 1990s according to the study, recording a cattle throughput of 61,582 head in 2021-22, representing 27.9 per cent of the peak of 220,572 recorded in 1995-96.
Warrnambool council commissioned the report in light of a potential spend of up to $5.66 million to upgrade the yards.
The future of saleyards then came under the spotlight again in early August after city councillors voted 4-3 against awarding a tender to spend up to $5.66 million on upgrades.
The motion that was passed which included a plan to begin stakeholder and community engagement based on the implications of not committing to the upgrade works.
The process included the AEC Group report and an independent economic study prior to what is expected to be a final vote of councillors next Monday, November 7.
"The economic activity supported by the saleyards in 2021-22 represents 30.6 per cent of activity supported by the saleyards in 2007-08," the study found, adding the 56 full-time equivalent jobs supported by the saleyards represented 0.31 per cent of total jobs in the Warrnambool council area.
In addition to the agent's commission generating the most business activity, other business was generated by operating activity (15.6pc), visitor expenditure, (9.5pc) and capital works (6.2pc).
The study also found other businesses would be impacted by a closure, especially those near the saleyards, but also all businesses located within the broader Warrnambool economy.
"If the saleyards was to close, the community would lose a number of benefits which the saleyards generates, including community pride, mental health, social and networking needs, satisfaction from employment, provision of a market for calves, competition for livestock, localised travel, agricultural knowledge among youth and access to infrastructure/services," the study found.
However, the report said the community could receive some positive implications, such as using the land for higher value adding activity, increasing animal welfare (as the animal will be sold from a facility which holds best practise standards), more efficient allocation of public funds and fewer trucks being present on local roads.
