GANNAWARRA Shire Council will offer the Kerang sheep saleyards infrastructure for sale.
Sheep have not been sold at the saleyards since 2008 and the infrastructure is currently surplus to council requirements
Shire corporate services director, Tom O’Reilly told council recently that the infrastructure would need to be removed in the future if council wished to develop the saleyards site.
Mr O’Reilly said that an opportunity exists to advertise the sheep yards and three loading ramps for sale by expression of interest either as a whole or in smaller parcels.
The remainder of the saleyards site is currently leased by Scanclear Pty Ltd, and the only livestock sales conducted there are cattle sales once a fortnight.
The sheep yards cover an area of 12,300 square metres, consisting of a concrete base, post and rail metal fencing and gates with three loading ramps.
“The sheep yards are in a state of neglect and they are a harbour for weeds and rabbits,” Mr O’Reilly said.
With the trend towards larger selling centres and the reduction of sheep and cattle sales being held in Kerang, the future outlook for the whole saleyards complex is speculative at best.
Council was told that it may be in council’s interest in the long-term to dispose of the whole complex, including the pound paddock, with a view to redesigning the site for an alternative purpose, such as light industrial or recreational vehicle or truck parking.
“An opportunity now exists to activate and revitalise the whole saleyards precinct, beginning with the disposal of the sheep yards which could include the re-routing of Markets and Garvey Roads, thereby improving the future capability of the site,” Mr O’Reilly said.
