Saleyard shift to fuel growth

The Capel Shire Council will not renew its lease on the Boyanup Saleyards after 2022 with plans to redevelop the land for housing.

Shire president Murray Scott said more than 70,000 cattle per year went through the saleyards.

“Gone are the days when cattle is in the middle of town, we want to get the smell and noise out of the centre of town and meet the growing population needs,” Mr Scott said.

“The council has found land in Gwindinup which is around 300ha, but without the government’s support to buy the land we can’t move forward.

“I reckon if Minister for Regional Lands and Development Terry Redman offered $3 million to the land owners they would take it but nothing has happened yet and it’s in the blueprint.”

The South West Development Commission’s South West Regional Blueprint outlines beef and lamb exports as a priority including the construction of a new South West saleyard facility and Mr Scott said it was about time State Government took the issue seriously.

The blueprint outlines an intention to develop new market demand for beef and lamb to create the incentive for year round beef production at levels required by overseas markets.

Mr Scott said there were other opportunities for business growth because of the size of the land in Gwindinup.

Bunbury Wellington Economic Alliance chief executive office Matt Granger said it was a regional issue and wasn’t just up to the council to solve the problem.

“Not only does there need to be an alternate site but we need to develop a business model to underpin the current saleyards,” Mr Granger said.

Dardanup shire president Mick Bennett said it was important to support the saleyards and it had been an ongoing battle which didn’t seem to be getting any easier.

“It doesn’t appear to be high on the government’s priority list at the moment even though it is important.”