Boyanup saleyards relocation on hold

Colin Barnett has announced the Boyanup saleyards will not be relocated until at least after 2021.

The Premier said in Parliament last month that “nothing was going to happen with the Boyanup saleyards until at least after 2021,” when the lease ended.

Mr Barnett said he understood the desire to move the saleyards out of the centre of town where it is too close to housing but it was also important to ensure there continues to be livestock facility in the South West area to service both the beef and dairy industry in the broader region.

“I recently visited Boyanup and broadly, I am supportive of the State Government playing a role in building and running a new South West livestock handling facility in the area,” he said.

“However, it is currently operated privately with a contract until 2022 and there is no urgency in this matter yet. The first step is to identify — and purchase — a suitable site for such a facility.”

Shire of Capel chief executive Paul Sheedy said the relocation of the saleyards had taken too long, forcing the Shire to agree to a lease extension with WA Livestock Salesman Association in 2012 for 10 years. “Council is very disappointed with the Premier’s recent announcement as it believed that it had an understanding with the State Government that the regional saleyards would be completed by 2022 at the end of the current lease,” he said.

Mr Sheedy said the State Government should be planning ahead so the current lease does not have to be renewed in 2022 for an additional period.

“The State Government needs to complete the feasibility study on identified land and complete the purchase of it to secure a suitable site which may not still be there in 2021,” he said.

“Council is currently working with the South West Development Commission to complete a land capability assessment of identified sites.”

Vasse MLA Libby Mettam said while the saleyards were not in the Vasse electorate there were cattle and dairy producers in the region and she believed there was an opportunity for a new facility to be dual-use to support sheep as well.

“I have written to the Premier and raised this issue as it is essential we have a future saleyards in the region beyond the closure of the current facility in 2021,” she said.

“My understanding is there was an expectation that a future facility could have been delivered through private investment and this has been explored as the current facility is owned and operated in a joint venture between Elders and Landmark.

“It is the role of Government to invest in industry or job creation where there is no interest or capacity for private investment and in the absence of this interest it is then important for Government to meet this commitment — and that’s what I’m seeking.”