Blue Mountains News

The opening, at the Mort Street facility in Katoomba, celebrated a new era for the animal shelter after Blue Mountains City Council took over the service on 5 July.

Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill said: “Negotiations with RSPCA NSW resulted in a solution that means best practice animal welfare services can continue across the City, after four successful decades.

“I thank the tireless volunteers, who have supported the service for so many years. We are indebted to you and look forward to working together in the years ahead. I also want to thank Member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle MP, for the role she played in negotiating with the RSPCA for this new service.”

Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle said, “I am thrilled with this outcome. It has been a privilege to facilitate negotiations between the community, RSPCA and BMCC to reach this result, which sees a shared vision for animal welfare in the Blue Mountains come to fruition.

“It is a sustainable solution which honours the remarkable history of the shelter and ensures it has a positive future for the benefit for our beloved non-human companions.”

Council launched BMACC’s new adoption service, at the official opening.

“I am delighted to announce that one month after taking over the facility, Council is rehoming animals,” Mayor Greenhill said. “We look forward to continuing to find new homes for animals in need of new families.”

Since the service opened its doors, more than 50 per cent of all animals arriving as strays have been reunited with their families within 24hrs.

Council has also accepted donations from community members.

“We’ve received a huge number of donations in recent weeks, which has been amazing as it has saved us hundreds of dollars and helped restock the site,” Mayor Greenhill said. “Now that BMACC is up and running, Council is currently planning an online donations platform to target goods and donations into the future.”

At the official opening, the Mayor also thanked Council staff who had worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth handover from the RSPCA.

“Starting any new Council service takes a lot of work but starting a new animal management facility in only four months has taken an organisation-wide collaboration,” Mayor Greenhill said

“Council is committed to the protection of animals, and staff are overjoyed to be able to extend this care to companion animals. This is an extension of the best practice impounding function, which is a legislative requirement for stray animals.”

A small team of six staff will be providing a seven-day-a-week care to stray and impounded animals, mostly dogs and cats, at BMACC.

Council has been working with a volunteer reference group since the beginning.  Their help has been invaluable in regard to planning the new service and we thank them for their support and guidance.  We’ll be looking at ways to engage with further volunteers in the future, as things get up and running.

Operating at the former RSPCA site at 121-125 Mort Street, Katoomba, BMACC is currently open by appointment only. 

You can call BMACC direct on4780 5791 or go to here for more information.