THE beef industry in the South West was hit hard by two surprising announcements last week.
The first bombshell was the revelation that the State Government would not be contributing any funding for the relocation of the Boyanup Saleyard complex.
Under parliamentary questioning, Agriculture Minister Ken Baston confirmed that the $2.2 million promised in December 2010 had been spent elsewhere and the balance returned to Consolidated Revenue.
“The last thing beef producers want is to be forced to transport livestock from the South West to either Muchea or Mount Barker, because it would make farming unviable and send us farmers to the wall.
- Local beef farmer
Minister Baston said there had been no commercial interest by industry representatives to use the money to replace the Boyanup saleyards.
“It is not a priority nor is it reasonable for this Government to invest public money in a new site or infrastructure that would compete with that successful business,” he said.
Member for Collie-Preston Mick Murray MLA expressed his disappointment in the minister’s responses to the questions he had put to him as a Question on Notice in the Legislative Assembly.
“It is common knowledge that the Boyanup Saleyards need to be replaced and possibly relocated, but now that the seed funding for looking at alternative options has been taken away, it seems the government has given up on the meat industry in the South West,” Mr Murray said.
The second shock announcement came one week later.
At the Shire of Capel Council meeting it was resolved that the State Government be advised of its intention to not renew the existing lease of the yards held by the WA Livestock Salesmen’s Association, which is Elders and Landmark.
Capel Shire Chief Executive Paul Sheedy said the council would prefer to use the land to accommodate the anticipated population growth within the town site.
“By not renewing the lease in 2022 it sends a very clear message to the industry organisations who benefit from the saleyards that there is a real possibility there will no longer be saleyards in Boyanup for cattle in the South West,” he said.
A local and long term beef farmer who asked to remain anonymous said the demise of the yards could well cause a catastrophe within the beef industry.
“The last thing beef producers want is to be forced to transport livestock from the South West to either Muchea or Mount Barker, because it would make farming unviable and send us farmers to the wall,” he said.
He predicted it could have a domino effect, not only on the industry itself, but also a lot of South West people who rely on the beef industry directly and indirectly for their income.
“If it’s not resolved the ramifications will be felt by so many others who depend on the beef industry for a living, like contractors, stock and station agents, machinery dealers and others associated with the industry,” he said.
WA Farmers Meat council president Jeff Murray said the decision to not renew the lease at Boyanup would make it very difficult to acquire store stock.
“Sending stock to Mount Barker or Muchea puts a double lot of freight on every cow, calf and steer that gets sold and it’s not an option in terms of livestock production,” he said.
Currently sales at the Boyanup Saleyard enable producers to sell store cattle and graziers to restock, as well as the sale of fattened cattle to butchers.
The ball is well and truly in the hands of the State Government, which has only eight years to keep the economy going by ensuring new saleyards become a reality in the South West.