The Maranoa Regional Council will hold a community consultation session at the Roma Saleyards next Tuesday as tensions over a new buyers fee continue to simmer.
In a statement to Queensland Country Life, Council confirmed the session would be held during next week’s Roma Store Sale from 7.30am to 10am
”The session will be an opportunity to talk with your local Councillors about the Roma Saleyards and any other matters of interest to the community,” the statement read.
“The Councillors will have a stall at the Roma Saleyard’s grassed area and look forward to discussions with users of the facility.”
Council representatives are likely to face a frosty reception from some buyers concerned about a $1.40 per head buyers fee introduced at the saleyards on July 1.
QCL understands that some buyers have so far refused to pay the fee while the Roma Combined Agents Association are furious about how the fee was implemented and the potential impact on competition at sales.
Elders livestock manager Queensland, Paul Holm, said it appeared the Maranoa Regional Council had underestimated the situation.
“I don’t know whether they quite realised the passion around this issue,” he said.
“It (the saleyards) has been robust through lots of issues but I don’t think Council realise that this could be the biggest threat to the Roma Saleyards in a long time.”
Mr Holm said while the Roma Saleyards was an excellent facility, Maranoa Regional Council also needed to value the input of local agents and vendors.
“It is the goodwill of the clients and the agents that work through those saleyards that makes that asset valuable,” he said.
“The facility is one thing but without the clients and agents it’s just a heap of steel.”
Mr Holm urged all those impacted by the fee to have their say at the consultation session.
“This is an opportunity to make Council aware of their grievances or otherwise.”
I don’t think Council realise that this could be the biggest threat to the Roma Saleyards in a long time.
- Paul Holm