More than a year after the closure of a former animal pound, the future of the vacant site remains undecided as community members question what will happen next.
The former RSPCA Noosa site, located on the corner of Hollett Road and Eumundi-Noosa Road, has remained unused since the lease was returned to Noosa Council on May 31 last year.
The continued vacancy of the site has drawn attention from residents, with Noosa Community Notice Board member Judy Painter calling for clarity on its future.
“Seriously! What’s the go with the old RSPCA grounds? Will it end up another TAFE? House With No Steps? How many of these wasted empty spaces do we have to accept?” she said.
Ms Painter compared the vacant site to other former community facilities that have remained unused, including the former House With No Steps site at Doonan and the Tewantin TAFE campus, which closed in 2014.
Development and Regulation director Richard MacGillivray said council had not yet decided the future of the site after the RSPCA vacated it last year.
“Before we consider any future uses for the land, we’ll review our current outsourced pound arrangements to make sure they are continuing to best meet the needs of our shire,” he said.
“We will assess any future proposal for the former pound site against council’s Strategic Land Activation Policy to ensure it supports our long-term priorities and provides a clear benefit to the community.”
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Mr MacGillivray said the site would require significant remediation work before it could be used for another purpose.
“We will take these requirements into account when making any future decisions about the site,” he said.
The pound contract was not renewed after an 85 per cent reduction in impounded animals, with Noosa Council later outsourcing its pound services to Sunshine Coast Council.
Council officers now take lost animals to the Sippy Creek Animal Pound if they are unable to contact the owner.
To report a lost or roaming animal in Noosa, contact Noosa Council on 5329 6500. The Sippy Creek Animal Pound is located at 48 Sippy Creek Road, Tanawha, and can be contacted on 5439 8000.
