December 24th, 2024New Ballarat regional animal facility designs released

Designs for the proposed new Ballarat Regional Animal Facility have been finalised, showcasing a state-of-the-art resource that’s expected to provide care for thousands of animals across Ballarat and the wider region.  

Working with the City of Ballarat, Architecture Matters has developed designs for a facility that allows for integrated outdoor and indoor facilities for the animals, improved infection control and ventilation and enhanced boarding capacity.  

Key features of the designs include:

• Segregated areas for dogs and cats, with all dog areas having access to outdoor pens and exercise yards.
• Adoption areas, where people can come in and meet their potential new pet.
• Dedicated animal kitchen facilities, for staff to prepare the food and enrichment activities for the cats and dogs.
• Two entrances, to ensure the correct requirements for people attending to adopt or surrender.
• Dedicated spaces for veterinary rooms, wash areas, a stockyard, meeting rooms and offices.

Waringa Drive in Ballarat’s Mitchell Park is slated as the site for the new facility which will also include solar panels, water harvesting initiatives, smart lighting and a building management system to assist in reducing ongoing power usage.

City of Ballarat mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the existing animal shelter is in an old, repurposed abattoir building that is not fit for purpose and is often at capacity.  

“It’s fantastic to see how the new facility will look, and how it will assist the staff to continue to provide an incredible level of care to all animals that come through the facility,” she said.  

“The Ballarat Animal Shelter currently provides care for more than 2,000 animals from Ballarat and neighbouring areas each year.”  

The $14.5 million project would not be possible without $11.5 million of funding from the State Government, with the City of Ballarat contributing a further $3 million.

Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence said the welfare of Victoria’s animals is a priority for the State Government.  

“This much needed facility will ensure more animals will be able to get the care they need and that our wonderful staff and volunteers have new state-of-the-art facilities to work in,” she said.

Tenders will open shortly for the construction, following an Expression of Interest phase, of the new Regional Animal Facility, with works anticipated to start in 2025.

The Planning Application for the new Regional Animal Facility is now in the public notice phase.

This story based on a city of ballarat media release