The Scenic Rim Regional Council is consulting with stakeholders as it considers the future of the original Beaudesert saleyards.
In August 2019, council advised the saleyards' operators that their lease on the site at Helen Street would end in 12 months to enable the Beaudesert Town Centre Revitalisation project to proceed and transform the heart of Beaudesert into a vibrant town centre.
Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said that with the lease due to expire in August 2020, council had met with community representatives last month and was considering a range of issues raised.
"We recognise the importance of ongoing access to a pig and calf sales for some of our local producers and have active discussions under way for such an option to continue," he said.
"An extension of the existing lease until December 2020 may be considered to allow these discussions to progress."
The decision to transform the facility was met with outrage among the community, with 1231 residents signing a 'Save the Saleyards Precinct' petition.
Local Sue Williamson said they had sent an application to the Queensland Heritage Council, which is required to act independently to identify and protect places that have special heritage value to a community and future generations.
"Our application has now entered its second stage," she said.
Member for the Scenic Rim John Krause said he had spoken with local councillor Michael Enright, urging him to ask council to reconsider their decision.
Mr Krause said Beaudesert had a rich agricultural tradition but with the small sub-divisions going on now, there was a sense that this had been lost and council should reconsider the plan to demolish the yards.
Livestock agent Peter Hayes, Hayes and Co, Silverdale, conducts fortnightly calf sales at the saleyards and said they had been given a verbal reprieve but there was yet to be anything in writing.
"There were no plans to demolish the saleyards any time soon, so they've given us until the end of the year," he said.
"It's a Band-Aid solution, really."
Mr Hayes said council had suggested the fortnightly pig and calf sales be moved to Beaudesert Showgrounds and while that might provide a reasonable alternative, he was unsure if the show society would be keen to say yes.
"We'd rather stay where we are," he said.
"Apparently council has copped some flak over this and they admitted that the sales bring people in who spend money in local shops.
"Only people power is going to save us now, so everyone keep on to your councillors."
Cr Christensen said to continue operating, the saleyards would require significant capital expenditure to bring them up to a suitable standard if they were to remain as part of the town centre precinct.
