Council News WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL
FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 16 MAY 2015
Issue 44
Weekly information from us to you
HAPPY POOCH: Animal Ranger Keli Stephens introduces one of their tenants to the new enclosures at the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter.
First class home for Wagga’s furry friends
periods. An open day will be held later in the year to give the public an opportunity to see the new facility at GRAS. Around a thousand dogs and 350 cats were housed at the facility last year and Mr Minehan said anyone looking for a new pet should consider The new facility features 40 dog kennels, almost visiting the Shelter to rehome a dog or cat. doubling the previous capacity, and is now one of “Shelters like this are the end result of people the most up-to-date shelters in the state. who don’t properly care for their animals and I It includes air conditioning and in-floor heating to encourage all residents to think carefully before keep the temperature at 23 degrees year-round. getting a new pet,” he said. Wagga Wagga City Council Manager Regulatory “If you are looking for a new dog or cat, please Services Greg Minehan said animal welfare is come down and visit us. paramount at the facility. “The animal management team can help find the “This is best practice in animal management,” he right pet that fits in with your family and lifestyle said. and all of our rehomed pets are vet-checked, “Wagga now has a fantastic shelter. microchipped, desexed, wormed and lifetime “It’s been designed in a way that will minimise the registered.” transfer of diseases while maintaining an overall Anyone interested in adopting a pet can visit focus on the safety and welfare of the animals, GRAS between 1pm and 4.15pm from Monday Council staff and the public.” to Saturday or contact the Animal Management The new facility also has a designated viewing Rangers on 6971 4651 during business hours. area and self-sustained veterinary room. The former A pet of the week is also highlighted in each building will now be used for overflow in peak edition of Council News.
Wagga Wagga is leading the way in animal care with the opening of a $720,000 state-ofthe-art upgrade of the Glenfield Road Animal Shelter (GRAS).
Creating a new home for local wildlife
It’s full steam ahead for the Narrung Wetland project, with bulk earthworks currently under way. Wagga Wagga City Council, with funding partners Riverina Local Land Services and the NSW Environmental Trust, is redeveloping the disused ponds of the Narrung Street Sewerage Treatment Plant into wetland area, recreating the area as a new community asset. Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Rod Kendall said the project will create an aquatic, passive reaction facility with a range of benefits for the wider community. “This area will be returned to public
for passive recreation, but more importantly it’s going to be returned to the wildlife and migratory and water birds,” he said. “It’s an extra tourist destination for Wagga and it’s an educational destination for school kids where they will have the opportunity to learn about our natural environment. “And it’s a great thing for our local Wiradjuri people to see this area returned to its natural environment and allow them to come and educate young Indigenous people on the traditional role of the land and that relationship.” Continued page 2