MP for the South West Region Robyn McSweeney visited the Boyanup Saleyards complex last week to voice her concerns about the impending 2022 closure of the facility.
“I believe it is imperative that the yards be relocated in the South West for the economic benefit of the area,” Ms McSweeney said.
“I recognise the livelihood of farmers absolutely depends on having the yards close at hand and it is certainly unreasonable for the choice to be Muchea or Mount Barker.”
Shire of Capel President Murray Scott has been a long-term advocate for the relocation of the yards, speaking out on many occasions, with requests to the State Government for assistance and support.
“The council has been pursuing the removal of the saleyards from the Boyanup town site and construction of new modern covered saleyards in another location in the South West since 2002,” he said. “The council wishes to use the land for future residential lots, as part of its Boyanup Town Site Strategy. We’ve been looking at three different adjoining blocks that would be suitable for sale yards and Crystal’s mine site block in Lowry Road is the preferred site.”
Mr Scott said he was aware that the Bunbury Wellington Economic Alliance and South West Development Commission have been working on this project and all understood the urgency for a feasibility study to be done in the next two to five years.
Funding was originally promised following the sale of the Midland yards when at that time the State Government undertook to fund stock selling facilities in Western Australia.
In a January 2011 press release, Premier Barnett announced that an estimated $17million would be spent on the relocation of new saleyards in the Shire of Katanning, that the Shire of Plantagenet would receive $2.3million in funding to clear debt from its cattle saleyards at Mt Barker and that $2.2million had been allocated to conduct ‘market sounding’ for the Boyanup cattle facilities, to help generate interest from the private sector.
Mr Barnett said at the time the livestock industries were a key part of the regional WA economy and saleyards continued to be a trading hub for producers, restockers, agents, processors, transporters and exporters.
In September this year Member for Collie-Wellington Mick Murray questioned the Minister for Agriculture in Parliament, referring to the December 14 2010 announcement that the government would deliver on a major election commitment which included an investment of $2.2 million to kick start a replacement for the Boyanup cattle facility. The government confirmed that the money had been allocated in the 2010 budget but said the money had been expended in 2014 – but not on the Boyanup facility.
In an extract from Hansard, it had stated that there was no commercial interest in the replacing of the Boyanup cattle saleyards and little urgency had been expressed by industry. Cabinet had then redirected some of the funds to the Shire of Esperance and Consolidated Revenue.
Ms McSweeney said last week she would be keen to use State Government Royalties for Regions funding to get the project under way.
“Having come from this area and being a farmer’s daughter, I realise that if we don’t start now, time will get away,” she said. “We must have a sale yard because it is a necessity.”
