RICHMOND Valley Council says it is committed to the Casino saleyards, despite recommending a planned $8 million upgrade be put on hold.
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The council's general manager John Walker said it was still a business the council wanted to stay in and the long-term plan was to make Casino the regional exchange.
The upgrade was relying on $3.5m in Federal funding, promised by Labor prior to the election and canned by the Coalition afterwards.
Combined with the current trading conditions at the saleyards, the absence of Commonwealth funds meant going ahead with the improvements would be impossible, Mr Walker said.
The Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange at Casino is
the sixth largest saleyards in the State in terms of throughput and is one of the main economic drivers for the region.
Richmond Valley Mayor Ernie Bennett said the cattle industry was the driving force of Casino's economy, providing 20 per cent of manufacturing revenue to the region.
"The industry is THE industry in town and we are the beef capital of NSW," he said.
Shan Goodwin
Journalist for The Land on the North Coast.
Journalist for The Land on the North Coast.
