On February 17 last year, it was announced the abattoir would be closing on February 24.

The closure left 220 people in Cootamundra without jobs and while some people have found work elsewhere in town, others have had to find work in other towns.

Since the abattoir closed, a small crew of workers have been keeping the facility maintained.

High livestock prices were one of the reasons cited for the plant’s closure.

A spokeswoman for the facility’s owners, Manildra Meat Company, said while they were intending to begin processing again there was no timeline for when it would happen.

“Manildra Meat Company continues to assess the industry dynamics with the intention of processing again at Cootamundra,” the spokeswoman said.

“A small team of employees continue to be based at the Cootamundra plant.”

Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council’s mayor Abb McAlister said deputy mayor Dennis Palmer and himself had sat down with the Manildra Meat Company to talk about the future for the abattoir.

Councillor McAlister said council would offer any help it could.

“It’s a shame to lose 220 jobs and the majority of those were based in Cootamundra,” Councillor McAlister said.

He said it would take time for the loss of those jobs to be felt right across the community.

Cr McAlister said any decision for the Manildra Meat Company to begin processing again rested with them.

“I’m sure they’ll turn it around. All we can do is give them support,” Cr McAlister said.

“If they need council’s help, I would like to think we are in a position to help.

“It would be good for the Cootamundra economy for [the abattoir] to open again.”