THE SOUTHERN
Part of the Farmer Group Rural Newspapers Covering Victoria Published since 1986
SEPTEMBER, 2017
ELMORE FIELD DAYS LIFT OUT
www.nemedia.com.au
MELBOURNE SHOW
PAGES 11-22
HAY AND SILAGE PAGES 26-30
PAGES 24-25
Geelong says goodbye to 150 years in the yards
NOMINATED: Gippsland based farmer, Graeme Nicoll, has been nominated for a director’s position with the Dairy Australia Board. Graeme has worked in the dairy industry for 20 years and currently runs a herd of 300 milking cows at his dairy in Gippsland. More details in story on page 5.
IT was a bittersweet ending for the almost 150-year-old Geelong Saleyards structure - and one that local producers have fought hard to avoid. “Where are people supposed to sell now?” Graeme Brown, vice president of the Victorian Farmers Federation’s Geelong branch and president of the VFF’s Bellarine branch, said. “I can’t talk about this without swearing – it’s bloody ridiculous.” The City of Greater Geelong owns and operates the saleyards, and prior to their closure ran fortnightly sheep and cattle auctions and poultry sales each Monday. “They (Geelong council) have let the saleyards run down over the last 10 years,” Mr Brown said. “We could have worked out an alternative if they had given us enough notice.” Mr Brown said the closure of the Geelong Saleyards might see small producers choosing to opt out of livestock, rather than travelling to sell at Colac. “The Geelong Saleyards
were great for filling that gap for owners who just had a trailer load of sheep,” he said. “It’s not worth their time or money taking them to Colac or Ballarat – it’s too far.” The official closure comes after serious occupational health and safety hazards were flagged at the site more than 12 months ago. Cattle sales were suspended in August last year. An independent report – completed by Zinc Cost Management and commissioned by the City of Greater Geelong - estimated that works to repair the cattle yards to an acceptable standard would cost just shy of $3 million. Sheep sales were also suspended in August last year, and returned in February after $150,000 was spent on pen renovations. Continued page 3
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