Community forum involving farmers, agents, Richmond Valley Council pushes to end beef over Casino saleyards

A huge crowd of farmers, cattle agents and Richmond Valley Council reps have gathered at a Bring Back The Beef forum to try to end a stand-off over the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange.

A massive turnout at a Bring Back The Beef public forum in Casino could pave the way forward in a standoff over the Casino saleyards.

Hundreds turned out to have a say in the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange (NRLX) dispute in a standing room only affair at Casino RSM.

It has been reported cattle producers in the state’s north are on tenterhooks due to the argy-bargy over fees between livestock agents and Richmond Valley Council.

Agents have been avoiding the extensive NRLX yards – the second busiest cattle selling centre in NSW – in favour of alternative selling locations like Lismore.

Retired Lismore MP Thomas George at the forum.

The council, which owns and operates the saleyard, has disagreed with agents who say new fees introduced July 1 are too hefty. The business usage fee increased from $1 a head to 0.2 per cent of gross revenue, while vendor fees stay the same for three years.

Four speakers represented farmers, business, Casino auctioneers and Richmond Valley Council.

Retired Lismore MP Thomas George chaired the event on Monday.

He kept a check on the crowd as tempers flared over lost wages, sales, and promised jobs.

Long-term local contractors the McCrays said at the meeting the council had “taken their livelihood” and they have lost contracts.

They have “been doing this for 30 years” and the couple were upset about cattle welfare, trough water and the unloading and delivery of cattle due to the current situation.

Allan Maloney of Maloney Carriers.

On another note, Alan Maloney of Maloney Livestock Carriers told the meeting he was “gobsmacked” the council wanted to take delivery of cattle.

He raised concerns about cattle potentially ending up in the wrong locations and blame being directed at agents.

Mr Maloney said the council has to take criticism from the industry “on the chin”.

He said some were happy not to use the Casino yards.

“There’s nothing wrong with Lismore,” he said.

Casino Auctioneers Association (CAAI) president Andrew Summerville.

Casino Auctioneers Association (CAAI) president Andrew Summerville said from the agents perspective everything was negotiable because they want to be selling cattle at Casino again.

“We want to do business at the NRLX, all these guys here (agents), it’s been no secret that’s where we want to sell,” he said.

Event organiser Allan Berry, who previously penned an open letter about the saleyard stoush, said the council needed to take concerns on-board considering the big turnout.

“We have a voice, and it’s loud,” he said.

“What they want to do is just get the agents back selling cattle at the NRLX under the old agreement, which gives them (the council) time to move forward and negotiate a new agreement hopefully everyone would be happy with.”

Public forum organiser Alan Berry speaking.

Four motions were carried by those at the meeting.

1. Richmond Valley Council dispense with the failed proposed licence agreement, temporarily allow auctioneers to recommence use of the NRLX under terms in place before June 2023, (until something can be agreed to), and council recognise the Casino Auctioneers Association as an organisation and draw up an agreement for agents to operate the NRLX into the future.

2. Council form an NRLX advisory committee chaired by an independent person. On the committee there would be representatives from agents, farmers, transport, council, buyers and vendors.

3. A professional mediator be appointed to help resolve the dispute within 14 days. If the dispute is not resolved, it goes to arbitration and to the minister for local government.

4. Council cancel contracts and employment of management staff at NRLX.

Richmond Valley Council will raise the issues at their next council meeting yet said they are not commenting further at this stage.