Security works required at new animal impound facility

GUNNEDAH Shire Council will use unspent funds from the animal impound facility upgrade project towards security upgrades and a portable surveillance camera trailer.

The council agreed to allocate $300,000 towards an automated sliding security gate, additional security cameras and floodlights.

A portable surveillance camera to combat illegal dumping would also be purchased with a provision of $130,000.

Councillors also agreed that a $500,000 Whitehaven voluntary planning agreement contribution be reallocated towards the council’s youth space concept design, which would incorporate a skate park.

“The security elements are required as the adjacent waste management facility is being broken into at least once every week,” the council’s business paper states.

“Further, with the ever-increasing problem of illegal dumping and other illicit activities occurring within the Gunnedah Shire LGA resulting in increasing costs to council, it is requested that approval be given to purchase a new portable surveillance camera trailer to combat these activities and increase the ability to gather evidence to strengthen investigations to prosecute offenders conducting these activities.”

Cr Kate McGrath congratulated staff for delivering the project “so significantly under budget”.

Cr McGrath said the $932,000 funds could be used for other projects.

“We get a bad rap often for … that old idea that councils waste all the ratepayer money and deliver nothing,” Cr McGrath said.

“This is some lovely evidence to the contrary.”

Cr Rob Hoddle sought assurance that the council could use the Whitehaven funds on a different project.

The council’s community and development director, Andrew Johns, explained that the allocation could be used for a council project of benefit to the community and that the youth space concept met that requirement.