Another step forward for new animal shelter

At yesterday’s Council meeting a contract tender was accepted from a local construction company for the new Dog Pound and SPCA building to be constructed, allowing works to begin as early as next week.

Ross Construction was awarded the $1,047,529 contract for the new animal shelter which will be located on Centennial Drive, just past Owen Delany Park.

Mayor Rick Cooper said that this was a win/win situation for the SPCA and Council being able to share a new state of the art building. He thanked Contact Energy for their generous provision of land at peppercorn rental and thanked Council staff for their design input, pointing out that Urban Design protocols had been followed and that this would be the ‘greenest’ building in Taupo with recycled materials from the old site being utilised for the new building.

Mayor Cooper did highlight the fact that the SPCA still had a way to go with their fundraising. “The good work of the SPCA needs to be acknowledged however they will be looking to the community for support over the next couple of months to raise the remainder of funds required for the internal fit out of their section of the building.”

“Another consideration is naming rights sponsorship – with the facility being on the edge of the East Taupo Arterial it will get significant exposure,” suggested the Mayor.

Funding for this project was not originally budgeted for however following a significant amount of submissions to the 2008/09 Annual Plan, Council came up with the solution of a shared facility for the Dog Pound and SPCA. Just over half of the facility will be funded by loan and the remainder will be funded by the SPCA.