SALEYARDS infrastructure owner/operator Regional Livestock Exchanges will close its Camperdown Saleyards between Geelong and Warrnambool later this month, due to prolonged lack of throughput.

RLX leases the yards from the local Corangamite Shire Council, and has advised the owner of its intention to cease trading at the yards following the 25 June sale, after concluding that the site cannot be operated viably into the future.

Selling at Camperdown yards

RLX has been operating the yards since 2018 and, despite working with local agents and producers to increase throughput, cattle continue to be directed to nearby Hamilton (37km away by road), Mortlake (46km) and Colac (45km) in preference to Camperdown, the company said.

“Unfortunately, over the past few years the yard has rarely received the stock volumes required each month to meet the minimum throughput numbers in the lease,” RLX said in a statement.

Annual numbers have for some time been ‘some thousands’ below the minimum stipulated under the site lease of 20,000 head of cattle per year.

The yard has been operating since 1973, firstly under council ownership and management, before being leased to RLX in mid-2018.

“As owners of the saleyards, Corangamite Shire Council has been an excellent partner, however after considering all options, RLX has advised the Council that it does not see any realistic scenario under which the site could continue operating on a financially sustainable basis,” RLX said.

Engineering reports consistently showed that while the site is safe to operate today, substantial capital investment would be required in the near term to keep the site operating safely, with even more investment required to bring it up to the standard of a modern facility.

“The combination of ongoing low throughput and the significant capital required in the near term means that the Camperdown yard is no longer viable and will not be viable again in future,” RLX said.

RLX is working with agents on the preferred date for the last sale, which is likely to be Tuesday 25 June. About five regular agents operate from the yards, mostly selling at other nearby selling centres as well.

“More broadly, RLX retains huge confidence in the Australian agricultural industry and plans to continue developing regionally significant and modern livestock facilities in strategic locations, chosen for stock numbers, transport efficiency, and long-term sustainability,” the company said.

“RLX continues to be open to both further acquisitions and investing in sites that it operates on behalf of other owners.”

RLX chief executive Brett Freer said the company was working with all stakeholders to help find the best solution for their livestock sale needs – whether that is livestock being sold at Hamilton, Mortlake or Colac.

Regional Livestock Exchanges focuses on developing regionally significant modern livestock facilities within strategic locations, chosen for stock numbers, transport efficiency and long-term sustainability. Following the closure of Camperdown, it retains nine saleyards across three states:

• Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange at Carcoar NSW
• Inverell Regional Livestock Exchange at Inverell NSW
• Hunter Regional Livestock Exchange at Singleton NSW
• Tamworth Regional Livestock Exchange at Tamworth NSW
• South-eastern Livestock Exchange at Yass NSW
• Central Queensland Livestock Exchange at Gracemere QLD
• Central Victorian Livestock Exchange at Ballarat VIC
• Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange at Barnawartha VIC
• Western Victoria Livestock Exchange at Mortlake VIC