RSPCA Qld reveals plans for a new Townsville centre at West End

Five years after closing its Townsville animal shelter, RSPCA Qld has revealed plans to establish a new centre, combining cat adoptions and boarding with an op shop.

Townsville animal attendant Simone Tokic was photographed with a couple of kittens for adoption from the RSPCA in 2018.

The RSPCA Queensland has revealed plans to establish a new centre, combining cat adoptions and boarding with an op shop, five years after closing its Townsville animal shelter.

After the RSPCA’s controversial decision to discontinue operating the Tompkins Rd animal shelter in April 2018, Townsville City Council took it over while the RSPCA concentrated on animal welfare responsibilities.

An about-face on that decision occurred in late June when the RSPCA lodged a development application through Milford Planning’s senior town planner Paul Cohen with the council.

They sought to change the use of a showroom to allow animal keeping at 2 Woodman Court, West End – positioned between BFiTT and City Cheer & Dance Studios.

A three-week public notification period commenced at the start of September seeking feedback from the community for the proposal that would see the building used as retail space for the sale of Op Shop items (clothing, household items, accessories and furniture), pet items, as well as displaying cats for adoption and cat boarding.

The proposed RSPCA Centre at 2 Woodman Court, West End. Picture: Supplied.

The proposed RSPCA centre at Woodman Ct, between BFiTT and City Cheer & Dance Studios. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Mr Cohen said the not-for-profit organisation’s centre would be run by 10 staff and six volunteers, where a maximum of 30 cats would reside on site at any given time.

“An op shop will operate in the front portion of the subject site, for the resale of clothing, household items, accessories and furniture and will involve receiving donations from visitors to restock op shop items,” Mr Cohen said.

The community called on council to renegotiate with the RSPCA on the closure of its Townsville operations at Bohle in 2018.

“The rear loading area will also be used for pet training/education, which will occur twice on week nights, spanning two to three hours, and all day on Saturday … located entirely within the building.”

During a pre-lodgement meeting, council officers noted the potential for noise generated by the pet training operation to impact on residential lots across the lake.

Mr Cohen said appropriate measures would mitigate any noise generated including insulated internal walls and having staff available between 7.30am to 4pm to calm the animals.

With the nearest residents 120m away he did not anticipate infrequent animal noises to be a nuisance above Woolcock Street’s 40 to 55 decibels of road noise.

A RSPCA Queensland spokeswoman said they were finalising plans to expand their services offering in Townsville.

“We continue to tailor and refine our services by region to achieve the greatest animal welfare outcomes for each community,” the spokeswoman said.

“As part of the expanded services offering RSPCA Queensland will be opening a new Op Shop at West End which will also offer cat adoptions.

Emma Gregory organised a protest outside Townsville City Council in a bid to force the council to reverse its decision regarding the RSPCA leaving Townsville. Emma is pictured with RSPCA rescue cat, Beans.

“RSPCA Queensland will be conveniently located within The Lakes precinct adjacent to Vinnies helping to create a community hub where savvy shoppers can find a bargain while supporting a worthy cause.”

She said RSPCA Queensland’s Inspectorate and Rescue Unit services remained active in the Townsville region and, post-Covid, adoption and foster care programs had been re-established to support animals in the local community.

Townsville City Council was contacted for comment.

Originally published as RSPCA Qld reveals plans for a new Townsville centre at West End