THE Surf Coast Shire has held off on providing funding for a study into creating a new saleyards facility until it receives more information.<\/p>\n
Councillors considered the $20,000 request from the City of Greater Geelong towards a rural and peri-urban scoping study for a multi-purpose livestock and information exchange, to be built somewhere in the G21 region, at their January 22 meeting.<\/p>\n
According to the report presented to councillors, \u201csignificant staff time\u201d has been spent since the Geelong Saleyards closed in August 2017 monitoring the sale of sheep and cattle originating from Surf Coast Shire via various saleyards and sale platforms \u201cto confirm if adequate pathways to market exist\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdditional aspects associated with the multipurpose facility such as education, food and branding are covered in actions contained in the Sustainable Agribusiness Strategy for the G21 Region 2017-2022 and do not require a saleyard facility to enact.<\/p>\n
\u201cData collected indicates multiple pathways to market exist and are being accessed by Surf Coast based livestock producers.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdditional components of the proposed project are being delivered by other organisations and actions.<\/p>\n
\u201cFurther, it also reveals that unmet demand for an additional livestock exchange facility does not exist in the Surf Coast region.\u201d<\/p>\n
On this basis, officers recommended declining the request for funding.<\/p>\n
Instead, councillors resolved to defer the request \u201cuntil further information is received regarding biosecurity issues and the full scope of the proposed study\u201d.<\/p>\n
Cr Carol McGregor said reports presented so far had not considered the possibility of a combined facility.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut until we actually get a scoping study, we don\u2019t even know whether that\u2019s a viable option.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Surf Coast Shire has held off on providing funding for a study into creating a new saleyards facility until it receives more information. Councillors considered the $20,000 request from the City of Greater Geelong towards a rural and peri-urban scoping study for a multi-purpose livestock and information exchange, to be built somewhere in the […]<\/p>\n