Camperdown saleyard to shutdown

Low stock volumes and an immediate need for significant capital has forced Regional Livestock Exchanges to cease operations at a western Victorian saleyard.

Camperdown saleyard will wind up operations in coming weeks, with the final likely sale date to be June 25. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

The Camperdown saleyard will wind up operations in coming weeks, citing ongoing low throughput and the significant capital required to keep the site running safely as reasons for the closure.

Operators Regional Livestock Exchanges said cattle continue to be diverted to Hamilton, Mortlake and Colac in preference to Camperdown, with the yard rarely receiving enough stock volumes required each month to meet minimum lease requirements, of 20,000 stock per year.

A RLX spokesperson said the sale yard, which is owned by Corangamite Shire Council, met the minimum requirement in only a handful of months.

In the past year, Camperdown had 14,008 prime cattle listed, with an average of 275 for their weekly Tuesday sale. In comparison, the Mortlake saleyard, also owned by RLX, had average yardings of 1478 cattle in the same time period.

“RLX has persisted for several years trying to get more stock through the Camperdown saleyard, however, the combination of ongoing low throughput and the significant capital injection required means that the yard will not be viable in the foreseeable future,” RLX chief executive Brett Freer said.

“We are working with all stakeholders to help find the best solution for their livestock sale needs – whether that is livestock being sold at Hamilton, Mortlake or Colac.”

Corangamite Shire Council said they will explore all avenues thoroughly before making a decision on the future of the yard.

“Council will investigate the future use of the site but — given the business realities prompting RLX’s decision — is unlikely to take over management of the saleyard,” Corangamite Shire Council chief executive David Rae said.

“It will be a lengthy process to determine what other uses may be possible and what will be required to decommission the saleyards and potentially repurpose the land.”

About half a dozen agents are expected to be affected by the closure, with the last sale likely to be Tuesday June 25.

This comes months after RLX finalised acquisitions of the Yass and Mortlake saleyards, with this decision bringing their portfolio back down to nine yards across the country, including the Central Victoria Livestock Exchange at Ballarat, and the Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange at Barnawartha.