How Long Have the Current Geelong Saleyards Been in Operation?

Geelong Saleyards FAQs – December 2016

Background

How long have the current Geelong Saleyards been in operation?

The early Geelong Town Corporation bought land for the Saleyards in 1867 and opened them in 1869. It has operated as a livestock exchange ever since.

Who owns the Geelong Saleyards?

The City of Greater Geelong owns and operates the Saleyards, on behalf of all municipal ratepayers.

Who pays for maintenance, cleaning, staffing and security at the Saleyards?

The City of Greater Geelong is responsible for all costs associated with the Saleyards.

What services do the Geelong Saleyards provide for the region’s rural community?

The Geelong Saleyards provide a venue for farmers from across the region to buy and sell sheep, cattle and poultry. Prior to their closure earlier this year,the Saleyards ran fortnightly sheep and cattle sales, and still conduct poultry sales every Monday (excludingpublic holidays).

A truck wash also operates at the Saleyards, which allows transporters a local option to clean out their trucks between loads. (This reduces the possible spread of disease.)

Apart from selling livestock, the Saleyards also act as a ‘social club’, providing a valued meeting place for farmers, and an opportunity to socialise and discuss regional and personal issues.

How much does the City allocate each year for maintenance ?

In the 2015–16 financial year, the Saleyards budget was $425,000.

Of that,the City allocated around$250,000 for expenses such as contractors, maintenance, utilities, depreciation, plant, and safety works.

Does the City make a profit from the Saleyards?

No.Over the past 10 years the City has made an average loss of $171,000 per annum.

In the past three years alone, the City’s losses have been $194,000, $206,000 and $245,000.

What percentage of sales at the Saleyards are from farmers who live in the City of Greater Geelong municipality?

As the diagram below shows, one-third (or34 per cent) of the stock sellers using the Saleyards actually come from the City.

Arethe Geelong Saleyards heritage listed?

Despite their age, the Geelong Saleyards are not listed with Heritage Victoria.

However, the site is covered by a City of Greater Geelong Heritage Overlay, as it contains a number of heritage elements.

The City’s Heritage Overlay (HO) over the Saleyards’ central area means that the heritage elements of that area must be considered in any permit application for new buildings, or any demolition.

Who determines the frequency of sales at the Saleyards?

The local stock agents from HF Richardsons and Charles Stewart determine the frequency of sales, and what time they are held.

What is the zoning covering the Saleyards site?

The Saleyards occupy two property parcels: 125 Weddell Rd and 135 Weddell Rd, North Geelong.

The City owns the parcel at 125 Weddell Rd, which comprises the northern section of the site in the Industrial 1 Zone (IN1Z).

Theparcel at 135 Weddell Rd is Crown Land. The southern section of the Saleyards occupies this site,which is in the Public Park and Recreation Zone (PPRZ).

Figure 1Property Parcels Map

City decisions regarding the Saleyards

When did the City Council first recommend transitioning the Saleyardstoward closure, and why?

At its meeting on 9 June 2015, the City’s Counciladopted following recommendations:

That Council:

1)Seek opportunities for savings in operation of the saleyards;

2)Actively identify potential uses of existing land and facilities outside normal saleyards operations;

3)Work with neighbouring Councils to identify and develop a suitable regional solution with the view to initiating a future staged withdrawal from saleyards operation.

At a subsequent meeting on 27 September, the City’s Council adopted the following recommendations:

That Council:

1)reiterates the resolution of the previous Council, to pursue a staged withdrawal of operations at the Geelong Saleyards;

2)notes the extensive consultation undertaken by Council Officers, which included producers, agents, regional saleyard operators and officers of the Surf Coast Shire, Borough of Queenscliffe, Golden Plains Shire and Colac Otway Shire;

3)notes that it was unforeseen that the Saleyards would close due to safety concerns before a transition plan was developed for staged withdrawal;

4)requests Officers to undertake additional consultation for further consideration at the 22 November 2016 Council meeting.

At itsmost recent meeting on 13 December 2016, the City Council’s Administratorsadopted the following recommendations:

That Council:

1)note the content of the independent OH&S Audit inspection undertaken by SafetyZone (Attachment 4) and the serious range of findings that need to be addressed prior to recommencing cattle sales;

2)note that repair works are already underway to enable safe operations for small lot sheep sales at the Geelong Saleyards in January 2017;

3)note that repair works on the cattle pens have not commenced and an initial estimate is in excess of $300,000;

4)defer repair works on the cattle yards until an independent expert local stock market analysis is completed and a full costing estimate is prepared based on the recently completed OH&S Audit inspection;

5)work with buyer, seller, agent and transporter representatives and other related stakeholders immediately to develop interim support arrangements for small lot cattle sales;

6)consistent with the previous Council’s resolution of June 2015, work with the G21 group of Councils, the G21 Agribusiness Forum and other agriculture peak bodies to establish an agribusiness strategy for the region which incorporates the resolutions of the Surfcoast Shire Council (see attachment 5) with a view to this being available for a final decision by mid 2017;

7)establish a Geelong Saleyards Advisory Committee, with a Terms of Reference consistent with the “Australian Code of Practice for the Selling of Livestock” and work with the proposed Committee to advise Council on user issues at the Saleyards.

Why did the City suddenly close the Geelong Saleyards in August 2016?

Early in August 2016 safety concerns were raised regarding the condition of the saleyards facility. An engineers report was received on the overhead and pedestrian walkways and other components including loading ramps which identified risks to users. This prompted immediate temporary closure of the Geelong Saleyards to sheep and cattle sales on the 22 August 2016.

Reports

Where can I read the structural engineer’s report and the two Occupational Health and Safety reports done in 2016?

You can read (and download) the structural engineer’s report and the Occupation Health and Safety reports on the Geelong Australiawebsite at: .

Eitherclick on this link, or copy and paste it into your internet browser, then type ‘saleyards’ into the search box, and press ‘enter’.

Agribusiness in Greater Geelong

Do farmers from the City rely solely on the Geelong Saleyards?

Many local farmers use the Geelong Saleyards,as well as selling at Colac, Ballarat and Pakenham.Some small lot farmers also rely on the Geelong Saleyards to sell and buy stock.

Does the City or the wider Geelong region have an agribusiness strategy?

Currently, Geelong does not have an agribusiness strategy. However, at its meeting on 13 December 2016 the City Council’s Administrators adopted the following resolution:

That Council:

6) consistent with the previous Council’s resolution of June 2015, work with the G21 group of Councils, the G21 Agribusiness Forum and other agriculture peak bodies to establish an agribusiness strategy for the region which incorporates the resolutions of the Surfcoast Shire Council (see Attachment 5) with a view to this being available for a final decision by mid 2017;

Current works at the Saleyards

Arethe Geelong Saleyards currently open to any sales? If not, when will they be open to the public for sales?

The Geelong Saleyards are currently closed for sheep and cattle sales.

The City expects to resume sheep sales in January 2017. Poultry sales are still held on Mondays, except for public holidays.

At its meeting on 13 December 2016, the City Council’s Administrators adoptedthe following resolution:

That Council:

4) defer repair works on the cattle yards until an independent expert local stock market analysis is completed and a full costing estimate is prepared based on the recently completed OH&S Audit inspection.

What work is the City currently doing at the Saleyards so that the site can reopen in January for sheep sales?

The City’s current works at the Saleyards are focused on reopening the sheep sales in January 2017.

The current works include:

• Erecting a new retaining wall at the sheep loading ramps
• Improving access from the loading ramps into the holding pens
• Improving access to the ramps via stairs for the truck drivers
• Replacing decayed rails in the required holding pens
• Capping of the (dangerous) metal posts
• Fully enclosing the new trailer/horse float ramp
• New and improved traffic management devices and signage

How much will this work cost?

The City estimates it will cost over $200,000 to complete the works in the sheep pens.

Why isn’t the facility open for cattle sales in January as well as sheep sales?

An independent Occupational Health and Safety assessment on the cattle pens made it absolutely clear that this areaof the facility is in much worse condition that the City’s first anticipated. They will require significantly more work and expense to ensure theyare safe for public access and use.

You can read the independent structural engineer’s report, and the Occupation Health and Safety reports, on the Geelong Australiawebsite at:

Either click on this link, or copy and paste it into your internet browser, then type ‘saleyards’ into the search box, and press ‘enter’.

If the City has a budget for maintaining its Saleyards, why doesn’t it use this money to repair the cattle pens?

The funds currently heldin the City’s Saleyards budget came from an insurance payout received aftera fire at the Saleyards building in June 2013.The City is using this money for its current works to repairthe sheep pens.

Further scoping still needs to be doneto determine the works and costs needed to repair the cattle pens (as identifiedin the recent independent OH&S report). The City’s insurance funds will help pay for this scoping work.

Are the agents and buyers able to enter the sheep pens?

Agents and buyers will be allowed in the pens, provided they complete a Safe Work Method Statement and an onsite induction. They must alsoshow proof of their certificate of currency for insurance. This conditions are recommended in the Saleyards’ Standard Operating Procedures document, and is a requirement at all other City sites.

Will there be loading areas at the Saleyards for trailers and horse floats?

The City is building a new secure area to allow a car and trailer or float to be fully secured behind a fence.

Why has the City replaced some of the rails in the holding pens?

The City has removed old decayed timbers from the holding pens, and replaced these with new (and much safer) hardwood rails. None of the removed rails were suitable for reuse due to splitting or decay.

Why did the City remove all the pens from the selling pens?

The selling pens contained a large number of old rotten wooden rails that had to be replaced. The cost to replace these rails with new timber was significant, and it was cheaper to replace them with metal sheep panels.

Will the City replace the overhead walkways?

The City removed the overhead walkways to allow for the removal of the timbers currently supporting them, as per the engineer’s report.

The overhead walkways are being removed now, whilst the pens are replaced with the metal panels. The first and second overhead walkways will be i replaced prior to reopening.

Which sheep loadingfacilities will be available for use?

There will be three loading ramps available for use:

• two fixed-level ramps : the ramp closest to the truck-wash, and the ramp closest to the waste-pits at the southern end of the yards.
• One adjustable ramp: the southernmost ramp.

The City has repaired the retaining walls and catwalks serving both ramps, and built new stairs. A new fence erected on top of the retaining wall reduces the risk of falls. The City has also added gates to allow access from the ramps to the yards – eliminating the need for drivers to climb over the fence.

Support for farmers in Greater Geelong

What support will the City provide to local cattle farmers while it scopesand costs the repair works for repair the cattle pens?

The City has committed to providing assistance to cattle farmers, and is currently determining that level of assistance.The City will publicise this assistance, once it finalises the details – in consultation with stakeholders from the local farming community.

Future operations at the Saleyards

Is the City transitioning the Geelong Saleyards towards closure?

At its meeting on 13 December 2016, the City Council’s Administrators adopted the following resolution:

That Council:

6) consistent with the previous Council’s resolution of June 2015, work with the G21 group of Councils, the G21 Agribusiness Forum and other agriculture peak bodies to establish an agribusiness strategy for the region which incorporates the resolutions of the Surf Coast Shire Council with a view to this being available for a final decision by mid 2017;

Is there a Geelong Saleyards Advisory Committee?

At its meeting on 13 December 2016, the City Council’s Administrators adopted the following resolution:

That Council:

7) establish a Geelong Saleyards Advisory Committee, with a Terms of

Reference consistent with the “Australian Code of Practice for the Selling of Livestock” and work with the proposed Committee to advise Council on user issues at the Saleyards.

In early 2017, City officers will developdraft ‘Terms of Reference’to help guide a new Advisory Committee, and call forpublic Expressions of Interest to establish the newcommittee.