By Jeremy Sollars
The Southern Downs Regional Council received more than 100 surveys from users of the Warwick Saleyards sharing their views on its future operation.
The council released the survey seeking “opinions on the saleyards future management options” from its users on Monday 6 November, despite already considering a preferred but as yet unknown tenderer for potential external leasing and management of the saleyards.
The surveys were due back to the council by last Friday 17 November.
A council spokeswoman said council had received “over 100 saleyards surveys back and thanks all those who took the time to respond”.
“The Saleyards Advisory Committee will now begin the process of considering that information and will then make a recommendation to council regarding the operation of the saleyards,” the spokeswoman said.
Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for external leasing and management of the Warwick Saleyards opened on 30 May and closed on 11 July, with the council announcing it had chosen a ‘preferred respondent’ from among the outside parties who lodged an EOI.
The identity of the ‘preferred respondent’ has not been publicly released and the council is yet to put a timeframe on a final decision on leasing out of the saleyards – despite being asked on numerous occasions by the Free Times – and it is not known when the Saleyards Advisory Committee is due to meet next.
Mayor Tracy Dobie has previously stated that “while council has run the saleyards effectively to this point, professional, experienced management is necessary to ensure best practice”.
Cr Dobie has also said the council would always retain ownership of the saleyards and could decide not to accept the preferred tender and continue to manage the saleyards directly.
A media statement issued by the council when the users’ survey opened said the survey had been “designed to obtain suggestions from producers, buyers, livestock carriers and other interested people on their vision for the saleyards”.
