Animal Liberation has raised concerns over confusing messaging from Central Coast Council and late notice to interested parties in relation to a new animal care facility to be built at Mardi.
The new facility will replace outdated facilities at Erina and Charmhaven.
Animal Liberation Regional Campaigns Manager Lisa Ryan said the organisation was delighted that Council had recognised the need to develop a modern, compliant and functional impounding facility to better meet the needs of vulnerable animals, and the local community.
“We support Council in this regard and some time back provided comment in response to the design concepts and indicated then we would compile and submit a formal submission when the Development Application (DA) was published,” she said.
“We are however alarmed that Council’s communications to interested parties, including Animal Liberation, is confusing, does not provide a link to the DA documents and is extremely restrictive in terms of the period of public exhibition.”
Ryan said although the DA was on exhibition from December 1-January 23, interested parties were advised by email that it was open for submissions only on January 16.
Public exhibition over the Christmas/New Year holiday period was never good practice, with many residents on holiday, she said.
“How we regard and treat animals holds significant importance for the NSW public and the local Central Coast community – we’ve seen that with the overwhelming response to an intensive dog breeding facility and a proposed cattle feedlot, both of which we strongly opposed,” she said.
“Our work on NSW pound and shelter reform and our exposure of dogs and puppies being shot and many non-compliant pounds is what led to the current NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into council pounds, and so we are heavily invested in this arena and want to see a positive outcome for the Central Coast.
“For that to happen people need ample time to compile and submit their feedback.”
A spokesperson said Council conducted comprehensive community engagement activities for the proposed facility between February 1 and March 1 last year, before extending the closing date to March 13 to incorporate two in-person drop-in sessions at Tuggerah Library.
“The team also set up a stall and spoke to over 40 people at a Pet’s Day Out Event as well as hosted a school workshop with kids from local high schools,” the spokesperson said.
“The consultation was widely responded to, including from the Animal Liberation group, with community feedback including 133 feedback forms completed and 98 comments and 353 reactions with 94 per cent support for the proposed key features on the interactive plans.
“This detailed date and all community feedback was used to guide the final designs.
“These along with the engagement summary and in-depth consultation report can be found at https://www.yourvoiceourcoast.com/ccracf
“In relation to a Development Application (DA) for this project, the notice period and requirements for DAs are set out within the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 (and associated Regulations) as well as the Central Coast Development Control Plan 2022.
“The development application for the proposed Animal Care Facility at 253 Old Maitland Rd, Mardi (Development Application Ref. DA/2009/2023) has a formal notification period which commenced on December 1, 2023, and concluded on January 23, 2024.
“Letters to adjoining land owners/neighbours were sent in advance of the notification period commencing.
“Animal Liberation, as with any other interested party, has been able to make comment/lodge a submission since the DA went on public notification on Council’s DA Tracker.”
The spokesperson said all relevant documentation had been available for viewing via the DA tracker.