IN a huge knock-back for beef producers, the WA Beef Council has announced it does not support further spending on South West saleyards.
Capel Shire Council has again called on the state government to fund or build a new cattle saleyard in the Boyanup area.
It sees this as a requirement so farmers can reap the benefits of agricultural deals in the South West.
Capel chief executive Paul Sheedy said it was not the council's responsibility to purchase land and build a replacement for the Boyanup Saleyard after the lease expires in 2022.
"Regional saleyards in the South West are clearly a strategic state infrastructure.
"The council would expect the state government to recognise this and provide adequate funding," he said.
The WA Beef Council should be encouraging the state government to understand the importance of modern, undercover saleyards for the region, Mr Sheedy said.
"The shire council is not in a position to fund the anticipated cost of about $15-$20million to build new saleyards and does not see it as a core business of local government," he said.
The original intention behind the proceeds from the sale of the Midland Saleyards in 2010 was to fund the construction of new strategically located saleyards in WA.
The South West was identified as one of those.
In 2010 an election promise was made to progress the WA Saleyard Strategy, which would see funds from the Midland Saleyards used to update key regional saleyard infrastructure.
Capel Shire president Murray Scott said there would be a missing link in the production chain for farmers with the closure of Boyanup Saleyards.
"It could be said that, with the South West abattoirs up and running again, producers can send their cattle directly to abattoirs as is the current practice," he said.
"However without saleyards, it denies producers the opportunity to sell or buy yearling and store cattle from saleyards to replenish their stocks.
"And not forgetting the special sales for the purchase of mated replacement beef heifers and bulls."
