Asub-committee of Wattle Range Council has made a fresh bid to retain some of the services at the Millicent saleyards.
Its own saleyards sub-committee met yesterday (Monday) and called for the retention of the truck wash, toilets and stock-in-transit facility and reinstatement of spending on infrastructure upgrades to meet Safework SA requirements.
Last month, it called on council to keep the saleyards as a selling centre but this was rejected and the last sale at Millicent is scheduled for tomorrow.
Yesterday’s recommendation will be considered when council holds a special meeting in Millicent on Thursday night.
It has been requested by three councillors including Councillor Moira Neagle who chairs the saleyards sub-committee.
She has also moved to rescind the closure motion and has a further motion to retain the Millicent saleyards truck wash, toilets and stock-in-transit.
Yesterday’s meeting was attended by all 12 sub-committee members with one exception along with a public gallery of around 60 cattle producers, agents, trucking contractors and council elected members and staff.
Mayor Des Noll was in attendance along with eight of the 11 elected members.
The venue was changed from the usual council chamber to the main auditorium of the Millicent War Memorial Civic and Arts Centre.
Lasting around an hour, most of the discussions centred on the desirability of retaining some of the key facilities.
The public was not permitted to participate, but the committee allowed two exceptions at the request of Cr Neagle.
Local farmers Sam Croser and Pat Harrold both stressed the need for a local truck wash for the sake of biosecurity as well as the ability of trucking contractors to service their local clients with stock, fertiliser and grain transport.
Cr Neagle read out aloud a letter from Livestock SA chief executive Travis Tobin, which said biosecurity risks were increasing and properly cleaned livestock carriers were essential.
Council chief executive Ben Gower said the annual revenue from the truck wash was $13,000, while the yearly cost to council was around $85,000.
In reply, Cr Neagle said she acknowledged there was a cost, but this was a service which the council should provide.
Saleyards contractor Neville Copping won the support of the meeting for his motion and it was the last item of business.
