Future of controversial $6.6 million Wingecarribee Animal Shelter cast into doubt

The controversial Wingecarribee Animal Shelter has been dealt another blow of uncertainty after councils administrator proposed a plan to share the land. 

The future of the long-awaited Wingecarribee Animal Shelter has been cast into doubt after Interim Administrator Viv May proposed a plan to share the land earmarked for the shelter.

Friends of Wingecarribee Animal Shelter Deborah Barnes said there had been a 10 year wait for land and funding for a new shelter, saying workers and animals at the current premises  are “dealing with dreadful conditions”. 

Council purchased a 5590 sqm lot 1 Bowman Rd in Moss Vale for the animal shelter, which was criticised for being too small for the purpose. Despite that criticism, Mr May has proposed the site house another vital community service. 

In this week's council meeting, Mr May suggested the land purchased by the council for the new animal shelter could also be used to house a facility for the underappreciated local SES. He acknowledged the site had “challenges” but said it would be “an ideal location” for an SES facility. 

1 Bowman Rd is the site of the new Animal Shelter. Photo: FOWAS

“To be very clear I am not suggesting that one be short changed for the other, but that both be provided to cater for the Shire’s needs while respecting the Council’s statutory obligations.”

Mr May ordered a report on the proposed SES site to be done in conjunction with the report currently underway into the animal shelter. Ms Barnes said she was expecting the report on the animal shelter to be delivered on June 23.  

Mr May’s site-sharing proposal comes as Friends of Wingecarribee Animal Shelter had been rejoicing the inclusion of animal shelter funds in the draft budget. The organisation this week asked supporters to write submissions to the council in support of the draft budget allocating funds to the shelter. 

“We need to tell the current administrator that the community is very invested in this shelter,” she said. 

“We’re a very different demographic of community here”.

The draft budget outlined $350,000 to be spent on the new shelter, which Ms Barnes said was for concept planning and surveying. She emphasised the funding was already allocated for the new animal shelter and wouldn’t be detracting from other projects in the Shire.

Wingecarribee Council paid $1.4 million for the land opposite the current pound on Bowman Rd and committed a further $5.2 million for the project.

The Jemena Gas substation is located on-site and a gas line runs through the property.

The animal shelter is currently in the design stage and the council has stated that it will be a brand new “state-of-the-art” shelter that will house more animals and be more comfortable for staff. 

“That budget has been allocated, but I would be surprised if that came through at that full amount,” a council spokesperson said.

However, Ms Barnes said the land the council purchased was expensive, unusable, and too small.

“It’s very big money,” Ms Barnes said.

“If the new animal shelter were built here, this would again be in conflict with Wingecarribee Shire Council’s animal welfare principles as well as the expectations of the Southern Highlands community.”

The current shelter can accommodate up to 18 dogs and 25 cats and volunteers have to often go off-site to exercise the animals because there is no room on the current land. The site is also currently zoned for light industrial purposes, and not animal welfare boarding.

1 Bowman Rd has been purchased by the council for a new animal shelter. Photo: Google Maps

Ms Barnes said this puts volunteers and animals at risk having to navigate traffic in an industrial area, and the new site was not big enough to solve that problem.

“This site is not fit-for-purpose, but apparently, the community should all be grateful that the council are moving forward with this project,” Ms Barnes said.

“In the end we’re still sitting in the middle of a tip.

“They (the council) want an animal shelter, and they want all the positivity that comes with it. They like all the publicity, but they don’t want to put in the hard yards.”

However, suspended Councillor Peter Nelson argued the council did the best it could with what was available.

“Council undertook a review of all possible sites in the shire to find the most suitable land at the best price having regard to zoning and high visibility,” Mr Nelson said.

“While the zoning doesn’t allow it to go straight in, we’ve applied to change the zone and we’ve been advised that should go through okay.

“I have my misgivings in spending $5 million dollars on an animal shelter, but...the animal shelter should be a facility that the people of Wingecarribee will be proud of.”

Although the designs haven’t been finalised, a statement from the council said there would be plenty of room at the new facility.

The new animal shelter “will cater for an increased capacity of animals based on our shire’s future growth and include dog kennels and exercise yard, a cattery, volunteer and staff amenities and an office for staff,” a council statement said.