One super pound at Ourimbah or Lisarow has been suggested in a confidential report written for Central Coast Council.
The idea of creating a single centralised pound that included all animal care and areas for livestock, vehicles and anything else that needed impounding, will come to councillors in February after being deferred at Council’s first 2020 meeting.
The super pound idea was recommended in a report written in May, 2019, by consultants. An executive summary of it was studied at the first meeting of the Companion Animal Advisory Committee held in October, 2019.
The matter finally came to Council on February 12, with a staff recommendation to identify potential sites at a central location, possibly Ourimbah or Lisarow, but Council voted to defer the issue when The Entrance channel chewed up hours of debate.
“It is proposed to include a provision of $150,000 for the further investigation into a new Regional Impounding Facility in the 2020/21 operational expenditure,” the recommendation to councillors says.
“The funding is to enable appointment for a consulting agency to prepare a conceptual design to enable a community consultation program.”
Staff recommended keeping the original report confidential for commercial reasons.
The original “Needs Assessment and Options Study Report” dated May 8, 2019, prepared by Signature Project Management identified that the current fragmented nature of animal care facilities was producing inefficiencies and that facilities required upgrading to meet current welfare standards and to accommodate increasing demand.
Source:
Meeting, Feb 12
Agenda item 3.3
Central Coast Council
Reporter: Merilyn Vale