Saleyards repair costs on the rise

A rising bill to fix Geelong’s historic saleyards could bring forward their demise, council administrators have warned.
They voted this week to wait for “further vital information” before deciding the yards’ fate in mid-2017.
The administrators last month announced a $400,000 quick-fix to reopen the saleyards in January.
But on Wednesday they revealed that an independent report last week identified “a number of urgent repairs” to make the cattle pens safe for use.
The cattle facilities “were” expected to cost $320,000 for materials alone on top of $150,000 in works already underway on sheep pens.
“Occupational health and safety legislation has caught up with the saleyards,” said administrators chair Dr Kathy Alexander.
“The independent OH&S report we received last week on the condition of the cattle pens made it absolutely clear that this part of the facility is in much worse condition than we anticipated and will require significantly more work and expense to ensure it’s safe for use.”
The administrators would await a regional agribusiness strategy to identify “the full costs of cattle pen refurbishments”, Dr Alexander said.
City Hall would also establish a saleyards advisory committee to give the administrators guidance on “user issues”, she said.
“We’re also committed to working with buyers, sellers, agents and transporter representatives to immediately develop an interim cattle sales arrangement, or support for small lot sales.”
The previous council had slated the 150-year-old saleyards for a $5 million sell-off.
But City Hall closed the yards earlier this year amid concerns that deteriorating overhead walkways could collapse.
The administrators held public consultations after a City Hall report said repairs could cost $1 million.
A public outcry from farmers across the region prompted the administrators to announce last month’s “interim” fix ahead of a long-term decision in “at least a few years”.