Council has signed a new Deed of Agreement with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) NSW ensuring companion animal management services will continue at the Katoomba facility.
The agreement was co-signed by representatives of Council and RSPCA NSW before it expired on June 30, 2021. It is for three years, with an extra two years of service option.
Blue Mountains City Council Acting CEO Kirrilly Twomey said: "We value our partnership with RSPCA NSW and the animal shelter and pound services it has provided from the site at Mort Street Katoomba since 1983.
"RSPCA NSW continues to provide reliable animal management services and has a consistent reputation for animal welfare.
"It's important for the many pet owners in the Blue Mountains community that we continue to provide these services, so I'm delighted that we have signed this new agreement."
Will Beerden, RSPCA NSW General Manager for Regulation and Business Services, said: "We know how important these services are for the Blue Mountains community and we are pleased to continue our relationship with the Council.
"Most importantly, we have the privilege to provide the animals of the Blue Mountain region care and support in times of need."
RSPCA NSW are also planning to develop a dual-purpose facility to service both companion animals and wildlife rehabilitation in Katoomba, the first of its type in NSW.
For this, RSPCA NSW have been granted a provisional license for wildlife rehabilitation by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) who are responsible for regulating wildlife rehabilitation.
RSPCA NSW Wildlife Manager Nick De Vos said: "Given the abundance of wildlife that call the Blue Mountains home, it is imperative that we are equipped to nurture and rehabilitate some of our most vulnerable creatures.
"We are really excited to create a site that can help support the needs of both companion animals and our precious wildlife. Moreover, this will be the place where we can train and educate the next generation of wildlife carers."
The proposed dual facility will need development consent, subject to independent review, before proceeding. The application is still to be received by Council and will be submitted to the Local Planning Panel for determination.
RSPCA NSW is hoping to have this dual occupancy site operating within the next 18 months.
