Greater Geelong City Council : Geelong Saleyards Advisory Committee expressions of interest will open soon

Our Administrators have endorsed Terms of Reference and authorised an expression of interest process for a Geelong Saleyards Advisory Committee.

The committee will work with the City to advise Council on a range of technical and community issues involved in the management of the saleyards.

Invitations to express an interest to become a member of the committee will be issued soon. The committee will be comprised of representatives from agents, livestock producers, transport operators, buyers and agribusiness and academic experts.

A selection panel would appoint members in February 2017.

At December's Ordinary Meeting of Council the Administrators resolved to continue with Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) works on the facility's sheep yards, and to defer any works on cattle yards until:

• An independent, expert local stock market analysis is prepared

• A full costing of cattle yards work is developed, based on a recently completed independent OH&S audit report

• A regional agribusiness strategy is completed.

The analysis, full costing report and agribusiness strategy would be used to inform a final decision on the future of the saleyards, including the use of cattle yards, in June.

Occupational Health and Safety works on the sheep yards would be operational in time for the first sheep sale of the year on 6 February 2017.

Dr Kathy Alexander - Administrator Chair

'The establishment of an advisory committee was supported by stakeholders at a forum held in September, and by the Surfcoast Shire Council at its meeting in November.Membership appointments will be made following a formal selection process by a panel, which will include Council officers and an independent expert.'