A large gathering of unhappy saleyard sellers at Swan Hill has rejected Council and agent plans to scrap their much-loved cattle on-scale/ring selling system.
A belated public meeting was held Monday after Stock & Land last week revealed tenders were being received to install a pen-sell/post-weigh concept without informing sellers of the proposal.
At the public meeting, which was chaired by Swan Hill Council mayor, Les McPhee, it was resolved Council, as the owner and operator of the facility, would form a working group to review the design of budgeted $1.6m project which includes Federal Government funds.
The working group, it was agreed, would comprise of producer members as well as agent, transport and Council representatives. Yard user and VFF Livestock chair Leonard Vallance, Nandaly, said Council heard loud and clear producers were unhappy. “We heard their arguments and agreed on non human/animal contact elements for work safety reasons but their reasons for changing the selling method didn’t stake up.”
“As sellers, we have agreed a redesign is needed to improve the speed of sales on a pre-weigh basis, and we have also agreed for a cease “reweighs” until after the sale has concluded.” Council chief executive John McLinden,who will chair the working group, acknowledged producers views required readdressing. Jason Pickering for Swan Hill agents agreed saying the discussion was fruitful as to finding the best way forward.