Industry Comment - Western Australian Famers Federation

The WA Government push to obtain a private investment proposal to replace the Midland saleyards will cost producers dearly.

A privately owned and operated saleyard facility would have difficulties in earning a return on investment, and the move to call for private tenders will waste another three months.

Midland is the only major livestock saleyard in Australia that is owned and operated by a State Government.

Most saleyard facilities throughout Australia are primarily owned and operated by Shire Councils and are seen as a service to rural communities.

Industry’s preferred position on the relocation of Midland has been that the saleyards be replaced by a metro-based multi-species facility, moving 38 kilometres north to Muchea, with the replacement facilities financed through the sale of the Midland saleyards site.

To ensure a long-term future for the new facilities in Muchea, ideally the ownership of the facilities would be via an industry conglomerate. The Meat Industry Authority may have a role to manage the facility in the future.