Earthmoving equipment is on the site of what will become the Bathurst Animal Rehoming Centre, which will replace the city's small animal pound.

The location on Hampden Park Road was confirmed in 2018 and a development application was approved late last year.

Council received funding for the new facility from both the state and federal governments in 2020, amounting to about one-third of the anticipated $3.2 million project cost.

State Member for Bathurst Paul Toole and mayor Ian North visited the construction site at Kelso recently to see the progress being made.

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Mr Toole said the Bathurst Animal Rehoming Centre (BARC) will signal the start of a new era.

"BARC will provide a modern, large-capacity facility centre which provides a welcoming customer environment and exceeds expectations for animal welfare outcomes," he said.

"The small animal pound has had a very successful rehoming program in recent years and this new facility will only boost this vital program.

"BARC will feature an adoption pavilion and companion animal education facility which will be a first in regional NSW, incorporating a purpose-built facility aimed at maximising opportunities for animals to find their forever home.

"It will also include an area designed to host educational and pets as therapy workshops with members of the community, which is great for community engagement."

Mr Toole said Bathurst's Regional West Constructions (RWC) won the tender for the project.

Weather permitting, it is expected that construction will take about 40 weeks.

Bathurst Regional Council says a new centre is needed because the existing small animal pound, which opened around 20 years ago, no longer meets the standards set by the NSW Government and it would be too difficult to retrofit it.

Council has no plans yet for the future use of the existing small animal pound site on the corner of Vale and Lloyds roads on Bathurst's southern outskirts.