General News
29 May, 2026
Saleyard, truck wash to be decommissioned
WORKS will commence to decommission the Camperdown Saleyards and associated truck wash after Corangamite Shire councillors voted at this week’s council meeting to decommission the site.
As Western District Newspapers reported in June last year, the saleyards were initially leased by Regional Livestock Exchange (RLX) prior to council receiving written notice RLX planned on exiting the lease.
Manager facilities and recreation Jarrod Woff said the yards, located at 71 Camperdown-Lismore Road, also hosted an inoperable truck wash and holding yards which will also be part of the decommissioning.
“Following the closure, councillors and officers met with agents, livestock transport operators and other stakeholders to gauge interest in the future use of the site and to provide an opportunity to raise issues and ideas arising from the cessation of saleyard operations,” he said.
“A review of the site has also been undertaken as part of the Camperdown Production Precinct Project, the Industrial Land Review and the Camperdown Structure Plan.
“Use of the site as a saleyard had declined in recent years, with reduced throughput numbers recorded.
“At the council meeting on July 23, 2024, council resolved to no longer pursue the use of the site as a livestock selling centre and investigate the feasibility of a commercial truck wash at another location within the shire.
“Council has subsequently received enquiries from stakeholders expressing interest in purchasing existing site infrastructure, including sheds, yards, ramps, lighting and fencing.”
The offices on the site will not be decommissioned as they remain in use under an agreement with council.
The decommissioning of the site will be conducted in line with council’s Disposal of Assets Policy, with a master plan under development for the future use of the land.
Councillor Laurie Hickey said he remembered when the saleyards were opened in the early 1970s, with much excitement from the rural community at the time.
“It meant we moved from the existing yards that were by the railway station out to a green area with plenty of truck parking and plenty of access from both sides,” he said.
“In that time, it had become a hub of trade, social connection and one of employment for many people – myself being one back in the early days.
“Unfortunately, with the continual upgrades of the place, it still wasn’t enough to continually attract throughput for the yards, so producers have been favouring to go to other facilities and sell online, which has meant that the operation of those yards has become somewhat unsustainable.
“It is very sad for something which was such a hub of the community to decline to where it is at the moment.
“The disposal of the asset is probably going to be something that most people will drive past and watch and certainly have some affiliation with the place.”
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