Moree Saleyards (closed)
12th February 2022:
Following an appeal to council, and a subsequent inspection of the facility, Moree Plains Shire Council deemed the saleyards to be an “unacceptable risk to livestock and operators”. The council published the statement, “public access to the Moree Saleyards has ceased”, attributing the decision to be related to decrepit conditions raising concerns for Work, Health & Safety.
Article Link:
https://www.mpsc.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/1289-public-access-to-the-moree-saleyards-has-ceased
12th March 2023:
The New England Times publishes article, “Petition demands Moree Saleyards reopen”. The article states that the petition reached 279 signatures in 10 days, describing a key driver for those in favour of the sale yards reopening being that “since the closure, cattle producers have been forced to transport cattle to other towns in the surrounding area such as Inverell or even Tamworth to have their livestock sold, proving to be an expensive inconvenience for producers.”
The article outlines more detail on the rationale behind the closure, “specific issues and health and safety concerns associated with the saleyards include:
- Poor structural integrity of loading ramps
- Rotting timber rails and protruding bolts in the holding pens
- Collapsed section of roofing in the yard area, weathered materials
- Abandoned/dysfunctional state of buildings and structures
Other significant issues and challenges include:
- Parking and vehicle access, high risk of light vs heavy vehicle collisions
- No effective environmental management of stormwater and effluent runoff
- Limited lighting structures”.
The article noted that “until major repairs have been completed and a lease has been agreed upon by Moree livestock sale yards, the site will remain closed.”
In March 2023, a working group was established to plan the reopening of the facility. No updates since April 2023, where local council published that funds were allocated for “repairs and upgrades” of the sale yards.
Article links:
https://www.councilnews.com.au/2023/04/21870260-moree-saleyards-update
https://www.mpsc.nsw.gov.au/2-uncategorised/1315-progress-on-the-moree-saleyard-safety-project
