Warrnambool City Council is consulting with the entire community about the future of the South-West Victorian Livestock Exchange, often referred to as the Warrnambool saleyards.
At its meeting on August 1, Council was faced with a decision on whether to invest close to $6 million to upgrade the saleyards which would make them competitive, meet contemporary expectations for a modern saleyards and provide them with a life expectancy of perhaps 20 years.
Council voted against the major upgrade with the factors behind this decision including the long payback period; other Council priorities and the establishment of an alternative saleyards at nearby Mortlake.
The motion passed at the meeting was:
“That the Council commence a stakeholder and community engagement exercise based on the implications of not committing to the upgrade works and the questions raised by the financial commitments required relating to the longer term financial viability of the operation.”
To inform a decision on the future of the saleyards, which could now include a prompt closure or a transitional closure of the saleyards, Council needs to fully understand the impact on the community of a saleyards closure.
Given the potential investment of Council funds that would be required to keep the saleyards operating, Council wants to have feedback from a broad range of people including the general community.
Read the background summary and complete the survey below to have your say.
The survey closes on August 26.
Council also welcomes general written feedback. Letters should be addressed to:
Saleyards Feedback
Warrnambool City Council
PO Box 198
Warrnambool 3280
Once the survey is finalised, Council will analyse the results before holding focus group discussions in mid-September.
Council will discuss the consultation outcomes and the future of the saleyards at its meeting in November.