Industry representatives outline plans for new saleyards operation in Tasmania’s North-West
The closure of a long-standing North West saleyard has created difficulties for local producers, and now a newly-formed group has come up with an alternative. SEE THE PLANS >>
Business
Don't miss out on the headlines from Business. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Police thank public who rushed to help in fatal crash
- Gutwein says exemptions are solid despite leaked ‘chummy’ email
A NEW community-owned and independently-run saleyard operation would be established in Tasmania’s North-West under a plan hatched by a group of industry representatives.
More than 200 people attended a public meeting in Penguin on Wednesday night and unanimously passed a resolution that the region needed a multipurpose stock handling centre.
It comes after the closure by Roberts Limited of the saleyards at Quoiba, near Devonport, and consolidation of operations to a site at Powranna, just south of Launceston.
The Quoiba site closed at the end of June which has since created difficulties for the industry in the North-West, group chairman Michael Badcock said.
Mr Badcock, a well-known vegetable farmer from Forth who is now semi-retired, was asked to chair the group following significant community concerns about the saleyard’s closure.
He said 15,000 cattle and 30,000 sheep had been sold annually at Quoiba and that the six weeks since it shut had been “a disaster”.
“The local butchers here and stock agents who used to buy product out of the Quoiba saleyards have been trying to go to Powranna,’’ he said.
“But there has been [limited] prime stock going to Powranna and they are trying to source [stock] individually around various farms. It’s been very difficult and putting a lot of pressure on stock agents and butchers.”
Mr Badcock said a committee had been formed to find a suitable site which would be based somewhere between Wynyard and Devonport and ideally in proximity to the Burnie port.
He said it would prepare a business case and investigate funding opportunities.
Noel Hardstaff, a stock agent based in Devonport, said he was pleasantly surprised by the turnout at the meeting and was confident the new saleyard would progress.
He said the closure of the Quoiba facility had created logistic challenges and removed regular contact between farmers.
Labor primary industries spokesman Shane Broad criticised the government for what it says was a failure to act after the centre shut down.
“The Quoiba closure meant farmers had to spend more money and time on the road to transport or buy stock,’’ Dr Broad said.
“The loss of the Quoiba sale yard also saw the end of an important event that brought locals together and was part of the social fabric of our communities.”
Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett said there was a national trend to consolidate saleyards in new or upgraded selling centres to meet environmental, animal welfare and safety standards.
“We understand the passion of some North-West red meat producers to have sale yard facilities closer to home and we are keen to understand the detail and feasibility of any proposed new facility,’’ he said.
Earlier this year, Roberts Limited, which conducts Nutrien Ag Solutions’ Tasmanian livestock sales marketing business, said the challenge would increase competition and prices for local livestock.
Why global money is rethinking ‘anything but China’ trade
Big investors are preparing to play in China again, but the wild swings are not for the faint hearted.
Why more investors put their money before the environment
Sustainable investing has been a growth area in recent years but a new study suggests some people are putting it on the backburner.