Funds for animal pound included in draft budget

Council has allocated $2.5 million in its draft budget to build a new pound.

Mayor Graeme Hanger OAM said the new facility would solve several issues the city and current facility have encountered. 

“The animal pound was built around 20 years ago and due to population growth and high rates of pet ownership in the Bathurst Region, the facility no longer meets the needs of our community and council in terms of capacity,” he said.

“In addition, the NSW government is soon to introduce new standards for council pounds known as the Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Cats and Dogs in Council Pounds and Animal Shelters. 

“The current facility will not meet the new standards and cannot be retrofitted without substantial expansion to the footprint and at considerable cost.”

Cr Hanger said it would be more cost effective to replace the existing pound with a facility purpose-built to meet the new standards.

He said the proposed new facility will be substantially larger, featuring distinct areas for cat and dog pens, a vet room to allow treatment of animals at the pound and separation of staff amenities and the impounding area. 

“The aim is to construct a building that allows for further growth in the Bathurst region and that extra capacity can be added at a later date if required,” he said.

“It is envisaged the development of the site will occur in a staged fashion over a number of years.”

Council is taking a new approach to animal control, shifting its focus to re-homing animals that end up at the pound.

“The increase in the number of dog and cat pens is significant in that it will allow council to hold dogs and cats for a longer period in order to find a suitable home locally,” Cr Hanger said.

“Council will continue to utilise networks through the NSW RSPCA and other rescue organisations to maximise the number of animals who find a new forever home.”

The design and construction tender process will occur as soon as practical if the funding is adopted. 

The new pound is anticipated to create up to three positions.

Cr Hanger did not say where the pound would be built, however during discussion of the draft budget at the last council meeting, general manager David Sherley said Hampden Park Road was a potential location.