Council call on saleyards lockout

The council was informed at its April meeting that there were still a lot of cattle arriving at the yards, without advising the Saleyards Manager and recently an electric light pole was knocked down by a truck over a weekend.

Saleyards Committee Chairperson Ros Wight pointed out that saleyards within a 200 kilometre radius of Cootamundra have locked their yards so no cattle and sheep can arrive unannounced.

Councillor Rod Chalmers argued that the Cootamundra saleyards needed to be locked.

Engineering Services Manager Gary Arthur explained that our local yards were being used by various other parties, other agents and livestock carriers without the manager’s knowledge.

Those using the yards overnight or weekends are required to pay a casual usage fee, however, Cr Wight explained often they come and go without anyone knowing except for the mess left behind.

Cr Wight pointed out that it is then time consuming for staff to clean up the mess left behind.

She stressed that this was livestock which was not entered in our sales but instead coming or going from other saleyards and sales – essentially using the yards as a half way house.

“We are running a commercial operation I don’t think it should just be open slather,” Cr Wight said.

Cr Chalmers felt there were also serious OH and S issues with leaving the yards unlocked.

“If someone gets injured we have no knowledge, it leaves council open to all sorts of issues,” Cr Chalmers said.

Councillors were told that often if an animal went down in a truck there may be a need for a driver to pull off the road or into a yard somewhere to rectify the situation.

Councillors were told signage with telephone numbers would be erected at the yards should an emergency occur.

People could still utilise the yards by contacting the saleyards manager, who would then unlock the yards and collect the usage fee.

“It’s not a garden party out there, we are running a business,” Cr Wight said.

It was also suggested that signage also state the fees and charges.

Deputy Mayor Dennis Palmer commented that this practise had been going on for decades and added that we needed to ensure this facility is available on a fee for service basis.

“There obviously is a need for it,” Cr Palmer said.

Mr Trethewey said while this type of usage has always been available for a fee it was difficult to enforce for example if cattle were dropped off on a Sunday afternoon when no one was there or during the night.

A notice will be sent out to all agents informing them of the decision, which will come into effect as of July 1. 

Cootamundra Associated Agents President Steve Tolmie said the agents were against the move.

Mr Tolmie told the Herald that the issue was discussed extensively at a recent Saleyards Committee meeting and it was agreed that the move to lock the yards was unnecessary.

He argued that there would be no financial benefit to the council as any fee collected would be diminished by having to pay staff a call out fee.

“I can’t see how the council is winning there,” Mr Tolmie commented.

It is vital, Mr Tolmie said, that stock carriers be able to utilise yards if there’s a problem (for example a sheep or cow goes down).

Agents also utilise the yards for weighing and will now have to contact the manager to open the yards, as will carriers who may want to unload stock to use the truck wash.

This means that council will have to pay someone to unlock the facility.

In reference to the mess made, Mr Tolmie commented that there really wasn’t much damage that could actually be inflicted on the yards.