By Jeremy Sollars
A potential plan to lease out the Warwick Saleyards to a private operator is yet to be considered by the Southern Downs Regional Council’s Saleyards Advisory Committee.
A meeting of the committee had been expected to be held by the end of August, as indicated by the minutes of a meeting held on Friday 4 August, which recorded members agreeing to discuss Expressions of Interest (EOIs) received by the council from interested outside operators “in three weeks” from that date.
But a council spokeswoman this week confirmed no further meeting has been held since Friday 4 August and no date has yet been set for the committee to meet next.
The spokeswoman told the Free Times the Saleyards Advisory Committee “is required to meet four times a year, at a minimum”.
“The date of the next meeting is dependent upon the availability of all members, many of whom are busy with bull sales and other commitments at present,” she told the Free Times.
“At this stage, the next meeting date has not yet been set. Therefore, there is no further update on the Expressions of Interest received until this meeting can be convened.”
The Friday 4 August minutes note that council CEO David Keenan advised the Saleyards Advisory Committee members it was “up to the committee to advise council what to do with regards to the EOI”.
The minutes show the Friday 4 August meeting was attended by members councillors Jo McNally and Rod Kelly, chairman David McIvor, Blake Doro, Les Fraser and Graham Kirkland.
Listed as observers were mayor Tracy Dobie, CEO David Keenan and council officers.
The council’s September general meeting has been changed from Wednesday 27 September to Wednesday 20 September, and will be held at 9am at the Stanthorpe chambers.
