Trial to allow additional buyers to weekly sale
Published on 27 April 2020
In response to community feedback and COVID-19 restrictions, Colac Otway Shire Council has trialled seating buyers in the dairy ring at the Colac Regional Saleyards to allow more people to attend the weekly fat sale.
Under the new arrangements, potential buyers will be given the opportunity to view the pens between 7am and 8am on fat sale days, however they must leave the pen area after that time.
Council has made 30 seats available in its dairy ring for genuine buyers to participate in the sale. Twelve of those seats are reserved for professional buyers – people buying for meat processors, feedlots or fee commission buyers – with the remaining 18 available for genuine private buyers.
However Development and Community Services General Manager Ian Seuren said Council’s message remained the same – if you don’t need to be at the saleyards, please stay home.
“Entry to the dairy ring is not available to speculative buyers or people who want to watch the sale, it’s only available to genuine buyers,” Mr Seuren said.
Private buyers with a genuine intent to buy should seek a registration tag from Council staff in the sign-in area between 8am and 8.30am, then proceed to the dairy ring. Only invited professional buyers will be able to participate in the bull sale in the pen area. Alternatively, farmers can provide instructions to their agents and leave site.
Colac Agents Association President Matt Nelson said the change was intended to make it easier for the Colac Otway community to participate in the sale while still achieving social distancing rules.
“This has been a challenging and rapidy-changing situation that we’re having to adapt to, to protect the health and safety of those people who are integral to the weekly sales at the yards,” he said.
“The agents and Council have been working in partnership to find a solution that achieves social distancing but still allows as many people as possible to safely participate in the sale, and we appreciate our community’s cooperation as we’ve found our way.”
Council is encouraging all sale participants to observe physical distancing requirements, stay seated while in the dairy ring and leave after completing their business to minimise the number of people at the saleyards.
Anyone onsite must first sign into the registration book in the alcove at the saleyards office; and they should also sign out before they leave.
Good hygiene while onsite is essential, and anyone who is feeling unwell should not attend the saleyards.
Mr Seuren said saleyards across the country continued to operate because of the important role they play in the food supply chain.
The upcoming May 1 store sale will also take place in the dairy ring and follow the same procedures as fat sales. Council and agents encourage genuine buyers to pre-register with their agents before the store sale to help with organisation on the day.