THE Nationals WA will allocate $15 million towards the construction of a new Boyanup saleyard facility if it helps form a government at the election on Saturday.
Regional Development Minister Terry Redman announced the Royalties for Regions commitment on Monday at the Boyanup saleyards, alongside Nationals candidate for Collie-Preston Monique Warnock.
The party also promised funding for the acquisition of land for the new saleyard site.
The Liberal Party has pledged $2m to purchase land for the proposed saleyards.
The existing, ageing facility is due to close in 2022 when Capel Shire Council ends the site lease.
The South West Development Commission is conducting a land capability assessment to find an appropriate site for its replacement.
As part of its Regional Livestock Saleyard Strategy, the government has invested $54m in the Muchea saleyards, $17m in the Katanning sheep saleyards and $2.3m towards the Mt Barker saleyards.
"This secures the final piece of the State saleyard strategy that we've already invested in," Mr Redman said.
"The new facility will handle the sale of more than 70,000 head of cattle annually, and has the potential to attract associated industries which will benefit from co-location."
Ms Warnock said the announcement would give the livestock industry, including dairy and beef cattle, confidence to invest and grow.
"This facility will be key to unlocking the growth of WA's beef supply chain and will deliver significant flow-on benefits to South West communities," she said.
Capel shire president Murray Scott welcomed the announcement but said it was long overdue.
"We've been working 10 or 12 years on this to make things happen, and we've got an election promise of $15m to build a new set of yards, plus on top of that they'll give money to buy the land so to me it's a better deal than we've had out of anyone," Mr Scott said.
"If this gets off the ground I can only see more cattle and more people on the rails, it's going to immensely improve what's there.
"I think whoever is in government has an obligation to make this happen."