Animals in the limelight

HUNDREDS of people descended on the new RSPCA Animal Care Campus in Wacol.

Her Excellency Governor of Queensland Penelope Wensley and her husband Stuart McCosker and a domestic kitten at the official opening of the new RSPCA Animal Care Campus at Wacol. Picture: Claudia Baxter

HUNDREDS of people descended on the new RSPCA Animal Care Campus in Wacol over the weekend.

The $25 million campus held its official opening yesterday which saw people from across the south east corner visit the shelter.

Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley officially opened the centre before a concert was held including a performance by musician Diesel.

The campus has been constructed from what was once the John Oxley Youth Detention Centre.

The conversion of the juvenile detention centre into the Animal Care Campus was supported by the State Government who gifted the land and the building to the Queensland RSPCA.

As well as an adoption centre for animals it includes the RSPCA's call centre and accommodation for overnight vets constructed from what were formerly cells.

The centre currently contains a range of cats and dogs available for adoption as well as a veterinary centre and the IT support desk for all RSPCA software.

Ms Wensley was taken on a tour of the facility by RSPCA Queensland CEO Mark Townend.

The tour saw the Governor visit a range of the campus' facilities before officially opening the centre.

Environmental and animal rights activist Bob Irwin also made an appearance at the centre, greeting Ms Wensley in the main foyer of the centre.

The campus will be able to provide education, animal adoptions, wildlife care and rehabilitation and livestock humane education and support to the community.

The RSPCA's goal is for the campus to be the centre for animal rescues, disaster recovery coordination and information on all animal-related public questions.

Visitors to the Animal Care Campus were able to take sneak peaks behind the scenes of the campus with people able to look at the significant parts of the centre.

While the campus was officially opened yesterday it was completed in mid-December last year.

A number of elements remain under construction, such as the education barn and farm yards, the majority of the facility is complete.

The RSPCA is hopeful the Animal Care Campus will encourage people to adopt pets and has already reported an increase in adoption numbers this year.

Originally published as Animals in the limelight