Latest news with #SwanHill
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Best bets and value play for Swan Hill races Friday
Form expert Brad Waters analyses Friday's Swan Hill meeting, presenting his best bets, value selection and jockey to follow.
ABC News
16-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Potential closure of historical saleyards in Swan Hill sparks outcry
Farmers in north-west Victoria are fighting to keep a historical livestock saleyard open, despite a council report warning the facility could cost ratepayers millions to operate. The Swan Hill Regional Livestock Exchange, which has been running in Swan Hill since 1938, has been a business hub and gathering place for the local farming community for more than 80 years. It is one of many struggling saleyards across the country as farmers and traders increasingly turn to online sales, according to Outcross Agri-Services, a company commissioned by Swan Hill Rural City Council to complete a strategic review on the future of the site. After years of declining sale numbers and increasing financial losses, the review recommended five options for the future of the saleyards, including shutting the yards completely. According to the council report, the saleyards have consistently made a loss over the past 10 years. But the idea of closing the site sparked outcry from local farmers and businesses, resulting in more than 450 submissions to the Swan Hill Rural City Council. For Swan Hill stock agent Matt Rowlands, the Swan Hill Livestock Exchange was more than just a worksite. "My 92-year-old grandfather used to buy cattle out of the Swan Hill saleyards," he said. "It's incredibly important on a personal view, but on a professional view, it's a huge priority as well. "If this saleyard goes by the wayside and this is not all handled properly, then this will be an opportunity we never get back again. Cattle farmer Leonard Vallance sends 300 to 400 head of cattle to the saleyards each year from his farm south of Ouyen. He said the loss of the saleyards would have a significant financial impact on Swan Hill. "We spend close to half a million dollars in this town," Mr Vallance said. "We buy all of our fuel, insurance, and do our banking in this town, and if there is no inclination to come to the town, we'd ship [our livestock] to Ballarat or somewhere else." Earlier this month, around 200 residents attended a forum in Swan Hill to discuss the future of the saleyards. In the past four years, the saleyards' total accrued loss was $837,244. The report found that the projected debt would surpass $4.5 million in 10 years if current low-sale rates continued. Swan Hill Rural City Council Mayor Stuart King said the number of cattle sent through the saleyards had dropped by 50 per cent over the past 10 years. He blamed the "changing face of livestock selling". "There's less stock going through saleyards right around Australia, and obviously Swan Hill is one of those saleyards that is affected." Cr King said the council was listening to residents and was considering other options, including funding the yards at an extra cost to ratepayers. "Somewhere along the line, those deficits have to be covered; we don't have an endless bucket of money," he said. Seventy-five years ago, about 300 livestock saleyards existed across Australia, but that number has fallen to fewer than 100 nationwide, with about 40 per cent of livestock sold through the sites annually, according to Outcross. The Swan Hill Rural City Council is collating the hundreds of submissions received and preparing next steps, which could include a council-led community briefing at a date to be confirmed.
