Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food Ian Blayney has called for the future ownership and management plans for Muchea and the replacement of the Boyanup saleyards to include consideration of a grower-owned and managed co-operative.
“A grower owned and controlled co-operative would have as its focus, lower costs to producers and long-term ownership,” he said.
“Growers and grower bodies have also told me there is $6-8 million remaining from the sale of Midland saleyards.
“I think that money should go towards the capital base of the new co-operative, if it was decided to go down that path.”
Bunbury MLA Don Punch said Minister for Agriculture and Food Alannah MacTiernan had agreed to progress feasibility on the future of the saleyards.
“Capel Shire council have long been calling for this and the minister recognises that the council would like to not extend the lease beyond 2021,” he said.
“She’s asked the department to facilitate that process and that would include models of governance, what the risks and costs are, what is required in terms of the market today and how that might change.
“I think it’s a pretty comprehensive piece of work and it’s sensible to do that before we come to final decisions.”
Mr Punch said there was tension between online sales and being able to physically go down to a saleyard.
“The industry down here has indicated a clear preference that they would like to continue a saleyard process where the animals are brought into a central spot and they can come down and bid,” he said.
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