A $30 million contribution from the Australian Government will ensure the facility is built to standard, future-proofed, and capable of meeting the growing needs of the animals and community for decades to come.
The RSPCA ACT Animal Welfare Campus - our Project Home - is a critical infrastructure project that will deliver long-term benefits for people, animals, and communities across the ACT and surrounding region.
With ACT Government commitments in place, the Federal investment is the essential final component to bring this project to life.
Without commonwealth funding, it is likely that our new campus would have been significantly reduced in scope, and unable to fully meet animal welfare objectives and the needs of the Canberra community.
As many of you are aware, the ACT Government made two election commitments to construct and deliver a fit for purpose new facility. This $38m ACT Government commitment is a funding envelope that must also include on-site and off-site enabling capital works - such as for example road works, water diversion, signalisation, and a bus stop - to make the site fit to use.
It is important to note that the $30m commonwealth funding is contingent on the ACT Government maintaining its promise and commitment of $38m towards construction.
The combined funding brings us close to meeting the initial total project cost estimates. A targeted capital fundraising initiative could be necessary to close any reasonable additional funding gaps, within the constraints of our limited capacity as community fundraising already sustain our day-to-day operations.
RSPCA ACT has served the Canberra and surrounding community for more than 70 years. Over the past decade alone, RSPCA ACT has cared for more than 72,000 animals and desexed over 16,000 cats and dogs.
Our current facility in Weston Creek has operated under its original crown lease since 1966, and most buildings are now more than 50 years old or are refurbished containers.
Despite ongoing maintenance and adaptation, the site is no longer fit for purpose and cannot meet the growing and increasingly complex needs of the community, nor the safety of our volunteers, staff, children groups and visitors.
Our new Animal Welfare Campus will be a best-practice, future-focused facility that integrates animal welfare, community connection, crisis support, education, and veterinary care.
And, in addition, it will also unlock significant urban renewal opportunities at the
existing Weston site when we vacate, supporting urgent housing supply and broader ACT planning objectives.
We believe this move will be life changing to the animals, staff, volunteers, clients, visitors and supporters of RSPCA ACT.
Thank you to our incredible supporters, staff, volunteers, partners and community for standing beside us throughout this long journey.
