Member for Barker Tony Pasin has committed the Liberal Party to funding the upgrading of the Mount Gambier Saleyards if it is elected at the next Federal election.
Mr Pasin said an elected Coalition Federal Government will support the Mount Gambier and Districts Saleyards Transformation Project with a funding commitment of $7.5m.
“The 50-year-old community owned facility is in need of a $15m upgrade to bring it up to modern standards to meet expectations for animal welfare and work, health and safety obligations,” Mr Pasin said.
“The transformation project includes a cattle yard roof, soft flooring, solar lighting system, pen realignment and new cattle crush, rainwater harvesting and security measures.”
Mr Pasin said the planned once-in-a-generation infrastructure upgrades were “essential for the long-term sustainability of the facility, the importance of which had been shamefully disregarded by the Albanese Labor Government who rejected a bid for funding made by Grant District Council last year”.
“Every person living in and around Mount Gambier benefits from a successful day at the saleyards in one form or another,” he said.
“Whether you’re directly employed in agriculture or not, when you live in a region like the Limestone Coast, infrastructure that supports our farmers to do business supports the entire community.
“The Coalition is supporting this project because we want to see our farmers and our rural communities not only succeed but thrive as we aim towards $100b in farmgate output by 2030. For this to happen, we need to lean in and back our Aussie farmers, not disregard the epic contribution they make to local communities, our national economy and the global food task.
