Lauded as a significant roadmap to guide development to the year 2040, with much stress on a “10-minute city concept” – Miners Rest was left out of that plan.  

A planning panel hearing was held recently to decide whether a re-zoning application can proceed to allow a saleyards facility to be built at Miners Rest.  That panel was placed in the position of making a recommendation based on the only valid guidance document currently available - an outdated council ‘Outline Development Plan’ for Miners Rest, dated 1994.

Miners Rest has changed considerably in the past 21 years and now council is considering approving the construction of this large piece of infrastructure without reference to a current and relevant strategic development plan. 

The No-Saleyards for Miners Rest Action Group does not have an argument with the construction of a new saleyards as such, just that, understandably, we do not want it built within 500 metres of the nearest residence and one kilometre of our township - especially when there are many other, more appropriate sites within the city boundaries. 

The residents of Miners Rest were not consulted by council on whether we want a saleyards built in our midst.  There was no building permit submitted for approval, and we were forced to do our research and make submissions on a continually changing ‘concept plan’ - and that is not proper. 

During the recent panel hearing, 30 residents presented verbal submissions,  and approximately 200 written submissions were made to council.  As well, a petition with almost 1800 signatures was presented to council.  With a population of 4500 in the wider Miners Rest area, our group sees this as a very significant number of ratepayers unhappy with this proposal.  Elected representatives, especially in the North Ward, should rightly feel vulnerable about their chances of re-election next time if saleyards are constructed at this site. 

Council has publicly said 700 jobs would flow from a saleyards being built at Miners Rest.  The operator of the current saleyards has said that less than 20 full-time staff would be employed.  We seriously question the validity of council’s contention and seek some clarification. A further concern is that construction of this facility is expected to be carried out by a Queensland company using  pre-fabricated sections built in Queensland, not Ballarat.  

If a saleyards facility is approved for construction in Miners Rest, it will have a very serious effect on future development in the township, which may likely stagnate.  A saleyards would then determine the future of Miners Rest, not the council, and certainly not the residents. 

Councillors have it in their hands to stop this happening, and we’re asking them to listen to their ratepayers and do so.