Australia-Changes in the cattle markets of Western Australia planned.

AUSTRALIA-PLANS FOR CATTLE MARKETS.

AN eastern states’ company wants to revolutionise WA’s regional saleyard system.

The Regional Infrastructure Group (RIG) flew to WA this week to meet with industry stakeholders and Agriculture Minister Terry Redman to discuss its proposal to own and operate the Katanning and Mount Barker saleyards.

It has also included a South West facility in its plans.

RIG chief executive officer Andrew McCarron said the company was very keen to spread its network to WA.

"We are predominantly active on the east coast, but are obviously interested in opportunities in the west," Mr McCarron said.

"The company has done its homework on the WA market and it is similar in a lot of respects to the saleyard system in the east.

"That is why I think the sort of infrastructure and development we are proposing would be suitable to the WA situation."

Mr McCarron said the group met with former agriculture minister Kim Chance and industry stakeholders last year, but this visit would be used to put the proposal to Mr Redman.

RIG is backed by the private investment company Palisade Investment, a fund manager specialising in infrastructure investment.

Mr McCarron said the backing meant the company would not necessarily rely on State Government funding.

"We are a business partner to the outright asset owners or investors and our core business is to bring development opportunities to them and ultimately operate and manage it on their behalf," he said.

He said he was aware of a push by sectors of the WA industry for a Government owned and operated saleyard system.

"I don’t really know how to comment on that," he said.

"It is probably a view that people have and reflects a traditional arrangement that has been in place.

"Running saleyards is our core business and it is a commercial business.

"This is the way the industry, particularly in the east, is looking long term and what we do for a living is own and operate saleyards.