Saleyards lease up in the air

The Shire of Capel is considering opening up the lease of the Boyanup saleyards after the current lessees failed to express an interest in extending their contract.

The agenda minutes for last month’s council meeting revealed cattle agents Elders and Landmark, which exclusively lease and manage the yards under the title of the WA Livestock Salesmen’s Association, had not expressed an interest in extending the lease for the next five years.

The saleyards are the last of four WA saleyards flagged to be upgraded or relocated as part of a 2008 election promise, with the Boyanup facility the last to be addressed and expected to close and be relocated in 2022.

The Shire of Capel has been pushing the State Government to investigate the relocation since 2002.

It has suggested a site at Gwindinup, about 6km south of Boyan-up, to replace the existing yards.

Councillors voted to defer the matter for between one and three months.

This will allow the Shire of Capel chief executive to investigate allowing other agents into the yards and other legal issues and to get authorisation to offer a short-term lease for a period of three months to WALSA.