Land cleared for $3.39m Mackay pound upgrade

The new facility will have 22 cat condos and 42 dog enclosures with extra space for interacting with pets

Mackay Regional Council Local Laws officer Reece Muirhead is looking forward to the upgrades to the Mackay Animal Management Centre.

The land has been cleared ready for stage one of the $3.39 million upgrade to the Mackay Animal Management Centre.

The upgraded facility will have 22 cat condos and 42 dog enclosures with more space for residents to interact with the pets before choosing to adopt.

Staff clearing the parcel of land next to the current Animal Management Centre, Mackay. Picture: Mackay Regional Council.

Staff will continue working at the current site until stage one is finalised and operational by October 21 next year.

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They will then transition to the new buildings with the current facility to be demolished for stage two of the project.

Mackay Animal Management Centre on Strickland Road at Mackay Harbour. Picture: Mackay Regional Council.

The second stage will transform the existing site into an enforcement dog and cattery building with the entire project expected to be finished by May 2022.

The designs for the $3.3 million upgrade to the Mackay Animal Management Centre.

Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson said earlier this year that prior to COVID-19, the current centre was reaching capacity two to three times a month.

“We (had) to rely very heavily on moving them out through the RSPCA or other animal welfare groups,” Cr Williamson said.

Rosie the Kelpie puppy is one of the pound dogs that regular accompany local law officers when they head to Mackay libraries to host the 'Pets are part of our community too' sessions. Picture: Heidi Petith

He said the new centre would be more comfortable for its furry tenants with larger cat cages and background music for the animals.

The council apologised for any inconvenience during the project’s build including increased noise and dust.

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The works were jointly funded by the council and the Queensland Government’s Building our Regions fund.

Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert said the fund would play an “important role” in supporting regional Queensland’s economic recovery and growth.

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