By Corey Everitt
In late November, the Gazette received the news from the Victorian Livestock Exchange (VLE) that the Pakenham saleyards would close in mid-2024, ending 25 years of operation in the region.
Its closure would leave local producers, who made up almost 100,000 head of cattle passing through Pakenham each year, with the closest option being the VLE’s remaining site in Leongatha.
Chief executive officer Brian Paynter explained at the time that the decision came as the financial operation of the site grew unviable.
“Rising costs, including council rates and land tax, has resulted in the operations becoming financially unsustainable,” Mr Paynter said.
“We would have had to increase our yard dues by $10 a head to cover the costs – and our prices are already at the top end of the scale.”
The potential closure of the Pakenham saleyards was a topic of controversy due to previous events over the years.
With the date officially set for the end of livestock trading in Pakenham, the community’s reaction was mixed.
Director at Alex Scott & Staff and long time agent, Greg Price labelled VLE’s move a “slap in the face”.
“I think it really is a disgrace how VLE has treated, not so much the agents, but their farmers,” he said.
While Michael Everitt from Everitt Seeley and Bennetts said: “They have been good to us, we got involved with Pakenham after Dandenong closed, it’s disappointing to see it close, but unlike Dandenong it’s privately owned they are allowed to close if they want to.”
