FOR more than a decade, the Shire of Capel has worked towards relocating the regional livestock selling complex outside of the Boyanup town site, which is earmarked for a future residential development.
Calls are now being made on the state government to help fund the relocation with beef and lamb exports highlighted as a priority industry in the South West Development Commission’s Regional Blueprint.
Vasse Council of WA Farmers Federation vice president Mike Norton said there was a need for the government to get behind a new saleyard in the region.
“There will be a great need for a selling facility in the South West, Boyanup is the last remaining facility.”
According to Mr Norton, in 2008 a deal was made with the state government to sell land at Midland Junction and use the funds to improve saleyards around WA.
Included in the deal was a new saleyard in the South West which would have replaced the one at Boyanup and while new saleyards were built in other places around WA the South West missed out on funding.
“We were cranky they gave the money to the Midland Redevelopment Authority,” he said.
“The poor old South West missed out and now the state government has found sense to honour the agreement made back in 2008.”
Vasse MP Libby Mettam said to ensure international airfreight was sustainable following the Busselton Margaret River Airport expansion it was vital that agricultural capacity was supported with infrastructure that provided a least cost pathway to port.
“Which a proposed new saleyard site at Capel would provide,” she said.
“Support for our South West agricultural industries is central to unlocking the potential of our region.
“I am aware that the Shire of Capel has earmarked a 300 hectare site, which has merit given its links with the other agricultural hubs in the area.”
Ms Mettam said the South West Development Commission’s South West Regional Blueprint included the construction of a new South West saleyard facility.
Shire of Capel chief executive officer Paul Sheedy said no specific site had been purchased but a number of sites in the shire were identified as a suitable location to service the South West.
Mr Sheedy said a centrally located regional saleyard with good road train vehicle access from all directions was critical for its future success.
“The saleyard location does not allow for any future expansion and there is a need to continually spend funds on upgrading the yards to meet occupations health and safety and animal welfare issues,” he said.
Mr Sheedy agreed the airport expansion may provide a future opportunity for the export of beef from the South West and hoped it would be processed here.
“This access to additional markets should increase the demand for beef and with the proposed expansion of Harvey Beef, should see an increase in stock numbers in the South West,” he said.
“Hopefully this increases the throughput at the regional saleyards and not diminish them.”
Nationals WA leader Terry Redman said he was broadly supportive of the relocation and upgrade of the saleyards if that is what the industry wants.
