In her March 8 letter, Ms Wauchope expresses concern over Viterra's ongoing assessment of its investment in the Bute facility, particularly whether to undertake repairs on the steel bins that are crucial for long-term storage capacity.
The steel and concrete bins at the site provide indispensable storage for the district's farmers, who have seen a strong harvest over the past year. In the days leading up to last Christmas, growers broke Viterra’s season records at its Bute site. And in November, growers delivering lentils to Bute broke the daily record two days in a row.
Ms Wauchope’s letter highlights that a decision not to maintain the steel bins and eventually decommission them would have significant repercussions on the area's storage capacity and the facility's ability to service the needs of local farmers. This decision could also fuel speculation about Viterra's long-term commitment to the Bute facility.
Farmers in the district have been grappling with record high input costs, such as feed, fertilizer, seed, pesticides, finance, and energy. These mounting challenges have created a difficult environment for the agricultural community. Any partial or full closure of the Bute facility would lead to added freight costs per tonne of grain, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the district's farmers.
The letter is a result of a motion moved by Cynthia Axford, one of Council's newest members, expressing full support of Viterra’s existing use of the grain facility at Bute, which received unanimous backing from Council.
“Barunga West Council is advocating for a long-term commitment from Viterra Australia to provide storage and handling services in Bute,” Ms Wauchope said. “This includes continued investment in the facility's infrastructure, particularly the steel storage bins, ensuring Bute remains a vital silo facility for South Australian grain.
“Council awaits Viterra Australia's response to our letter and remains dedicated to supporting the interests of its farmers, community, and the regional economy.”