Afurther bid to keep the Millicent Saleyards operating under the control of Wattle Range Council will be made tonight.

Deputy Mayor Moira Neagle has submitted a notice of motion to the March monthly meeting to keep the saleyards operating as usual for at least another 12 months.

Last year, council passed motions making the 47-year-old facility available for sale or lease.

If her motion is successful tonight, council will direct its chief executive Ben Gower to defer any action in relation to these sale and lease resolutions until March 31 of next year.

“This would allow time for the establishment of the Saleyards Section 41 Committee and for the members to voice their opinions on the management of the yards and what they can do to increase cattle throughput,” Cr Neagle said.

“By that time the SafeworkSA audit measures will be completed and thus any contracts to sell or lease would be simplified and easier to develop.

“To action those two motions now will create an enormous workload on staff when they are already under the pump.

“An improved working relationship between Wattle Range Council and the users of the yards has been developed recently through the passing of the motion to establish a Section 41 Committee and this could be compromised by immediate moves to sell or lease the yards.

“Wattle Range Council has agreed to spend a significant amount of money on the yards and the management has been transferred to the Engineering Department.

“Thus, the management of this asset has improved in ways which have not been achieved in decades.”

Cr Neagle has moved numerous saleyards-related motions since her election to council in 2018.

Meanwhile, the fortnightly cattle sales at Millicent have reverted from Thursday mornings to Wednesday afternoons.

The yarding on Wednesday was the lowest in several months with only 195 head changing hands.

The market grossed $425,000 as the average per head was $2261.

The next market is on March 16.