Plans for a new animal shelter in Moruya are on exhibition. Photo: dageldog.
Eurobodalla’s animal lovers will be pleased to see that Eurobodalla Shire Council’s development application (DA) for the animal shelter is on exhibition for public comment.
It will replace the animal pound in Moruya’s industrial estate that was built in around 1989 and does not meet current animal welfare standards.
Councillors resolved that the DA be prepared at the council’s April 2025 meeting.
The project has been allocated $2.5 million in council’s 2026/27 operational plan. Construction cost is estimated at $2.3 million. That does not include the cost of relocating part of the stockyard, so an allocation of $2.5 million was recommended.
The new administrative building will include a foyer, office space, cattery and treatment rooms. There is also an enclosed outdoor play area for the cats.
There will be 14 dog kennels, an additional two for dangerous dogs, and two dog exercise areas.
Resident and animal welfare advocate Louise Webb said the design of the kennels was much improved. Currently there are just rows of kennels, and the dogs look out at blank walls. The new shelter gives them a view of shrubbery in one direction, with the exercise yard in another.
The design incorporates an after-hours drop-off facility, fenced parking with six spaces, including one accessible parking space, plus additional informal parking.
Two trees will be removed from the 1.3-hectare site. The others are being retained for amenity and shade.
Plans for the new animal shelter. Photo: Eurobodalla Shire Council website.
The papers in the DA said in the 2024/25 financial year 189 animals were impounded and 143 rehomed.
Companion animals spend 11 days on average in the pound. The average number of companion animals held there at any given time is four, but over busy holiday periods numbers can peak at 14. On average, 16 animals per month are kept at the pound.
For some years Peter Cormick and Ms Webb have consistently advocated for replacing the animal pound as quickly as possible.
Ms Webb said council could do a much better job of promoting the fact that the DA was on exhibition and engaging the community.
She pointed to how in 2023 Central Coast Council had given its concept plans for a new shelter much more prominence.
At the end of the exhibition period Central Coast Council prepared a summary of the feedback received.
“I believe council should put the news out about the DA on its home page, pointing out the key features of the proposed new shelter,” Ms Webb said. “This is great news for animals and the shire.”
Sketch of the new animal shelter. Photo: Eurobodalls Shire Council website.
Initially the link in the news release took people to council’s home page for DAs. “It is being buried like a needle in the haystack,” Mr Cormick said.
Council has since replaced the link so it takes people directly to the DA for the proposed animal shelter. Submissions close 22 June.
A council spokesperson said they expected the DA to be determined in August, followed by a construction certificate and then tender for construction. Construction may start late this year.
While very happy that the proposed new shelter had reached this stage, Mr Cormick and Ms Webb were disappointed it has taken so long to get this far.
The project was delayed by issues regarding the stockyard on the site and an endangered ecological community. Both were resolved.
“The overriding problem from the beginning has been the need to constantly prompt the staff at every stage,” Mr Cormick said. “It has all been driven by the community and councillors.”
“We have made this great step forward bringing these facilities into the 21st century, giving animals the care they need and deserve,” Ms Webb said. “We would like council to be more excited and encouraging people to have their say.”
Further north the footings of the long-awaited wildlife recovery and rehabilitation facility for gliders in the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden were poured in early May.
The next step is installation of the cages, food preparation and storage shed areas and landscaping. That is expected to be done by late June so that the first gliders can be received soon after.
The pre-release facility is a partnership between WIRES and council’s botanic garden. It will ensure long-term availability that cannot always be guaranteed when built on private land.
