Livestock impounding facility on the cards after $13,000 Capel cattle move

A $13,000, three-month process to move more than 70 cattle from private property by the Shire of Capel has prompted the council to endorse an investigation of a future livestock impounding facility.

In late September the shire received a complaint regarding cattle that had trespassed on a Ducane Road property in Gelorup.

More than 60 cattle were sighted by the shire in “varying degrees of emancipation” due to a lack of water or food on the property.

Despite the owner of the cattle being given three deadline extensions to move the cattle they did not co-operate, according to council documents.

It wasn’t until mid-December that all the cattle were captured with the help of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Thick shrubbery on the property was said to have complicated the process.

A total of 71 cattle were captured by the shire and most were sent to Nutrien Ag Solutions to be sold.

One bull was sold at the Boyanup Sale Yards while two other animals died due to their poor condition.

In total, the incident cost the shire more than $19,000 but almost $6000 was regained by the sale of the cattle.

Councillor Peter McCleery moved a motion to investigate the possibility of an impounding facility, saying it was important to look into the incident given the associated costs.

“I like that we’re going to look at a way to deal with the livestock impoundment facilities going forward considering it was quite a costly exercise in this nature,” he said.

In support of the motion, Cr Ashley Dillon said the public should be aware of the incident.

“I would encourage any ratepayer or resident who has an interest in livestock to read this particular item, even in retrospect,” he said.

The motion was passed unanimously by council.