Kempsey Shire Council has moved to endorse further investigation and analysis into the options of maintaining, upgrading and leasing the Kempsey Regional Saleyards at the council meeting yesterday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Council will now develop a business plan to determine the changes required to the saleyard operations to achieve long-term financial stability and reduce operational risk to council and stakeholders. The report will be brought back to a future meeting to recommend the preferred management option.
Council will then conduct an expression of interest for parties interested in leasing the Kempsey Saleyards.
Councillors discussed releasing the report outlining the upgrade and maintenance options before the expression of interest is put to the public or to conduct them simultaneously.
"We have been at this for two and a half years, lets not rush this at the end," councillor Bruce Morris said.
"Having the expressions of interest after the draft business plan would better inform interested leasing parties about the future plan and possible upgrades for the saleyards."
Councillor Leo Hauville agreed and said the community should know the plan for the saleyards before deciding whether they are in a position to enter into a lease.
"We shouldn't ask for expressions of interest until we know how we will upgrade the saleyards," he said.
Councillor Anna Shields said having the business paper and expressions of interest processes underway simultaneously would save time.
"We have been talking about this for seven years and we are in the process of seeing this through. We're only asking if anyone is interested in leasing the saleyards," Cr Shields said.
"We want to narrow down the options for the saleyards and keep the process happening simultaneously."
However, the majority of councillors decided to first draft the business plan before asking for expressions of interest to lease the saleyards.
The business plan will come back to council early next year with a single preferred option before expressions of interest from parties wanting to lease the saleyards will be put to the public.
"The community feedback is that the saleyards remain under council management. The draft plan will come back to council early next year and council can then start with the process chosen," acting general manager Stephen Mitchell said.
Stay ahead with local news by signing up for the Macleay Argus newsletter here.
Also making the news:
