A multi-million dollar upgrade to the Mount Gambier and District Saleyards is in doubt after the federal government scrapped Round 6 of the Building Better Regions Fund.
Key points:
- The District Council of Grant applied for $5.5 million in federal funding to upgrade the Mount Gambier Saleyards
- The upgrade has bipartisan support of state political parties
- The council will consider its funding options through Labor's new regional grant programs
The $11 million upgrade remains contingent on $5.5 million of federal funding, with the District Council of Grant and the state government contributing $3 million and $2.8 million respectively.
The federal government announced the Building Better Regions Fund's replacement ahead of last night's budget, committing $1 billion of funding towards two programs, over three years.
Branded the Growing Regions Program and the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, they are likely to open in 2023.
Barker MP Tony Pasin said it was unsurprising Round 6 applications would not proceed.
He said Labor wanted to rebrand the regional grants program in accordance with its own "particular political agenda".
"Having won the election, that is the Labor Party's right," he said.
But Mr Pasin criticised the federal government over the time taken to announce the termination of the fund, saying it was disrespectful to Round 6 applicants who had been waiting for more than 10 months for an outcome.
"In some cases, applicants have expended significant funds — like the District Council of Grant, who invested $20,000 into their application — only to be told by the new government, that was a waste of time, and there's a new fund, but we can't tell you when it opens, and we can't tell you how we're going to assess it," Mr Pasin said.
Minister for Regional Development Catherine King hit back at the Member for Barker, saying Round 6 applications had not been approved or even assessed before the May election.
"What is disrespectful is the Nationals telling people their projects were funded when they weren't or saying the Albanese Labor government should fund them, when the former government didn't," Ms King said.
While disappointed, stock agent Sam O'Connor said stakeholders were already looking into the new regional funding streams that had been announced by the government.
"To be totally honest, once there was a change of government, there was always the concern that this could happen," he said.
"But there are other funding streams being put in place … so I look forward to being able to work collaboratively with the new government to make sure this upgrade goes ahead.
Competitive edge
The Mount Gambier saleyards sold nearly 65,000 head of cattle and 86,000 head of sheep to gross more than $157 million in sales last year.
Grant District Council chief executive Darryl Whicker said the saleyards were an integral factor in the prosperity of the region.
"Indirectly the saleyards assist agents, many local livestock transporters and over 100 producers," he said.
"Beyond that, many other businesses and industries within the Limestone Coast indirectly benefit from the saleyards [via] the money multiplier effect of the income spend by producers."
Mr O'Connor said the facility was at risk of falling behind its competitors.
"The upgrade is critical for a number of reasons, one of which is to maintain our high standards both in terms of workplace safety and animal welfare," he said.
"Buyers and producers want to trade their livestock at a state-of-the-art facility and this upgrade represents just that."