East Gippsland Shire Council will undertake a commercial review of the East Gippsland Livestock Exchange.

Acting General Manager Assets and Environment Wayne Richards said no decisions on direction will be made until the completion of the report.

“The review would look at the best operating model to ensure that the facility continues to meet the needs of East Gippsland’s important agricultural sector in an effective and cost-efficient manner,” Mr Richards said.

“As with any Council facility or service, it is important that we review operations to support best practice for the industry and ratepayers. There is no predetermined outcome for the review, with all findings to be presented to Council for consideration before action is taken. Our focus continues to remain on what is best for the livestock industry, local vendors and buyers, and ratepayers”.

The review will cover, as a minimum:

• Overview of the current in-house business model
• Forecast performance of the facility
• Best practice management options

“A consultant will be engaged to complete the project and work independently of Council. When appointed, the contractor will consult with key external stakeholders and all relevant staff,” Mr Richards said.

“Following this consultation, an options paper with detailed recommendations will be prepared and presented to Council for consideration in the second half of this year.

“Our staff and local livestock agents have been advised of the project and will be updated as the review progresses.

“We pride ourselves on remaining committed to providing state-of-the-art facilities that support not only livestock trade but also livestock transit, respite, and regional biosecurity.

“Our local vendors present their livestock to a very high quality, and we pride ourselves on being able to offer a facility that can support our local farmers and the broader economy.”

The yards support a capacity of 4,000 cattle and 20,000 sheep/lambs. Council has owned and managed the facility since it was redeveloped.