Members of the rural community are looking to stage a public meeting in a bid to save the truck wash facility attached to the Millicent Saleyards.

Wattle Range Council voted last week by seven votes to three to close saleyards by June 30 prompting a backlash on social and mainstream media.

An impromptu meeting of councillors, trucking contractors, stock agents and producers gathered at the saleyards on Thursday when the closure decision was lamented.

However, strong support was expressed for the associated truck wash owing to the vital service it provides to the farming and wider community.

The truck wash is licensed by the Environment Protection Authority and it is seen as an essential local support for various biosecurity measures now in place on farms.

It is understood that support for the truck wash will be sought from various stakeholders including Livestock SA and the Millicent Agricultural Bureau.

“It is a service to the rural community which should be continued by Wattle Range Council,” one local farmer said.

Supporters of the truck wash contacted by The SE Voice have yet to decide on the venue and time for the public meeting.

However, its future will definitely be discussed in a public forum in Millicent on Monday (June 26) when the Wattle Range Council saleyards sub-committee meets at 9.30am in the council chambers.

Council staff agreed to a request from a stakeholder to add the future of the Millicent truck wash to the agenda.

It comes after a motion to throw a lifeline to the Millicent saleyards was defeated at the Wattle Range Council meeting in Millicent last Tuesday night on the casting vote of Mayor Des Noll.

The following notice of motion was submitted by Councillor Moira Neagle and was lost 5/6 after 45 minutes of debate.

Her unsuccessful motion read that “Wattle Range Council resume spending on the Millicent Saleyards to meet SafeWork SA requirements and there be a moratorium on decisions about the future of the Millicent Saleyards until June 30, 2026”.

Supporting Cr Neagle were councillors Sharon Cox, Dennis Muhovics, Richard Cassidy and Deb Agnew.

Opposing her motion were councillors David Walshaw, John Drew, Peter Dunnicliff, Emma Castine, Dale Price and Mayor Noll.

Councillor Chris Brodie was absent from the meeting.

There were 20 farmers and stock agents in the public gallery.

Later in the meeting, the successful motion to close the saleyards was moved by Cr Price and followed 35 minutes of debate.

It was supported by Crs Walshaw, Dunnicliff, Drew, Cassidy, Castine and Agnew, while opposing it were Crs Neagle, Muhovics and Cox.

As the vote was not tied, Mayor Noll was not required to vote on this occasion.

Council had considered the results of a community survey which found 52% of respondents wanted the saleyards to continue.

Most councillors took the opportunity to express a point of view on the future of the saleyards.

Cr Muhovics said he was concerned about the perception of the community.

“Here we are shutting the saleyards one month and then building a new council office the next,” Cr Muhovics said.

Cr Neagle drew a round of applause from the public gallery after she read from a prepared statement for 10 minutes.

“People come out to defend the operation of the yards,” Cr Neagle said.

“The agricultural sector pays 34% of our rates and they are being short-changed.

“The actual cost to cost to run the Millicent saleyards each year is $150,000 and that is about the same as the Beachport boat ramp.

“We are about to spend $9m on a new council office.”

Cr Dunnicliff said a definite answer about the future of the Millicent saleyards had to be given sooner or later while Cr Castine said Wattle Range Council was facing expensive coastal issues and a large network of unsealed roads.

Cr Drew said the saleyards closure was one of the hardest decisions Wattle Range Council would ever make.

“It is time for our brains to be working and not our emotions,” Cr Drew said.

Cr Price said he had attended meetings about the future of the saleyards but no additional stock were ever sold there.

“Talk is cheap and action was needed,” Cr Price said.

Cr Walshaw said council’s own audit committee had warned of investing in unproductive assets such as the saleyards and it carried operational, reputational and financial risks.

“The upgrade bill is $1m now but more requirements could be coming from the EPA,” Cr Walshaw said.