Kempsey Shire Council is inviting the community to comment on options for the future management and ownership of Kempsey Regional Saleyards.
At the June Council meeting, Councillors considered a report outlining five strategic options for the facility and voted to place them on public exhibition for six weeks.
The community feedback received will guide Council in making an informed decision about the future management of the saleyards facility.
Council's Manager Commercial Business, Gayleen Burley, said all options involve the continuation of a saleyards facility in the Kempsey Shire.
"We recognise the significance of agriculture to the Macleay Valley and our stakeholder engagement has identified that the saleyards are highly valued by its users," Ms Burley said.
"However, we are facing several financial and operational challenges in maintaining and improving the facility and need to identify an option for the community asset that balances the interests of all."
The options paper outlines five scenarios including maintaining the status quo, upgrading, leasing or selling the saleyards, or building a new facility.
Council owns and manages the Kempsey Regional Saleyards where around 30,000 head of cattle are sold a year.
Council conducted online and face-to-face surveys at sales over January and February, a strategic stakeholder workshop in late March and individual meetings with saleyards agents to give buyers and sellers of stock an opportunity to share their experiences of the facility and consider potential management options.
Ms Burley said the targeted consultation had enabled Council to refine an options paper that will be on public exhibition for an extended period until 23 August 2019 to seek wider community feedback.
"I encourage interested community members to review the options paper and provide their feedback on the future management of this specialist facility," she said.
The options paper is available at Council's West Kempsey office or online at: https://yoursay.macleay.nsw.gov.au/saleyards
Submissions close at 4:30pm on Friday, 23 August and must be made in writing either through the website, by emailing [email protected] or in hardcopy to PO Box 3078, Kempsey, NSW, 2440.
Five options are being considered for the future management and ownership of Kempsey Regional Saleyards
