LATROBE Street traders say the future of their businesses is under threat by a City of Ballarat proposal to relocate the Ballarat saleyards to Miners Rest.
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Ballarat Bakery owner Greg Burke said he feared the flow-on effects of relocating the saleyards would devastate longstanding traders.
Earlier this year, Ballarat councillors voted to move to the next stage of relocating the saleyards to the Sunraysia Highway.
Mr Burke said if the proposal went ahead, he would have to lay off staff.
“Every week we put on extra staff to cope with the demands and influx of customers due the activity across the road at the saleyards,” Mr Burke said.
“But with the loss of aprofit I would expect to come with this relocation, I could not afford to keep all the staff.”
Mr Burke said in the 14 years he had owned the bakery, his staff had forged strong bonds with the saleyards workers, often organising breakfast, morning tea and lunch for them.
He said a special cattle sale, which happened one Friday each month, was the biggest day for many of the businesses in the Latrobe Street strip.
Mr Burke said he wanted the council to invest instead in upgrading and expanding the current site.
“It’s been going for 10 years,” Mr Burke said.
“It’s pathetic really. Why move it when all the businesses built around it will suffer.
“I don’t see why the council can’t invest the significant funds into repairing the current facility.”
Beaurepaires tyre retail store assistant general manager Stephen Callaghan also said a relocation could decrease the store’s level of profitability.
City of Ballarat community consultation on the proposal ended last week.
A report on the findings is expected to be presented to councillors in the coming months.
melissa.cunningham@fairfaxmedia.com.au
