April 23, 2025
South Burnett Regional Council released a media statement on Wednesday afternoon following our report about the imminent closure of the RSPCA’s Kingaroy shelter after the contract to run Council’s pound lapsed:
* * *
The current contract for the provision and operation of the South Burnett Animal (Cats & Dogs) Housing Facility Agreement expired on June 30, 2024. This agreement contained a provision for five-year extension with six months’ notice, at Council’s sole discretion.
After consideration, a variation to the extension date was resolved to allow Council to review future animal management arrangements and was adopted by resolution at the May 2024 Ordinary meeting:
That South Burnett Regional Council:
1. Provide an Extension of the existing contract “Provision and Operation of the South Burnett Animal (Cats & Dogs) Housing Facility agreement with the RSPCA”
(a) Offer the RSPCA a 12-month extension on the current contract.
i. As per the RSPCA agreed amount of using the Year 5 3.4% CPI increase – with no additional costs or increases.
ii. From the 5th year amount of $527,155, with CPI for 24/25 equates to $545,078.27
The site where the facility is located at Warren Truss Drive, Kingaroy (Lot 3 SP249643) is owned by South Burnett Regional Council and is also leased to the RSPCA at a peppercorn rate.
Current services provided in the RSPCA animal management and pound are as follows:
• Animal Housing Facilities
• Processing Impounded Animals
• Acting as authorised officers on behalf of Council
• Operations of the Animal Housing facility
Council will continue these services from July 1, 2025.
It is understood that RSPCA will continue certain services such as the investigation of animal cruelty within the region.
Council respects the RSPCA’s decision and wishes them the very best going forward with their services and will work with them for a smooth transition.
Our Council acknowledges the long relationship with the RSPCA and the many positive achievements made over the years.
Council in its negotiations over the past year with the RSPCA and internal review of operations has looked at a variety of models to maintain an effective pound service and balance cost increases in the provision of the service.
Editorial note: southburnett.com.au understands that in 2024, RSPCA Queensland sought a five-year contract to run the pound. Council offered a one-year contract which has now expired.
This is a disaster for stray and abandoned dogs and cats in the South Burnett and Burnett region and will be a cost to Council and ratepayers as Council will now have the added expense of operating the pound.
It will also impact local people (ratepayers) who want to adopt a cat or dog, as it is a long drive to the nearest RSPCA shelter.
We ask the Council to explain how and why they want to review future animal management arrangements? We ask the Council to promptly explain why they refused to issue a five-year lease, which was one of the reasons given for this disastrous closure?
In Kingaroy, we have the best animal rehoming org in Karma’s Place Rescue. They have operated for 10 years and looked after many animals. I’m sure an approach to them would be well received.
I was devastated by the news that the Kingaroy RSPCA is closing in June this year, a facility for the benefit of animals and humans alike.
I have read the SBRC explanation but I still remain confused as I not read the other party’s, always two sides to every disagreement. I ask why was a 5-year lease not offered in 2024?
The RSPCA has provided a marvellous service to this community so much so that I find their departure anti-humanitarian and ante-animaltarian!
Surely we will not regress to the cruelty of the previous Dark Ages where dogs were slaughtered in council pounds by the poundkeeper, going from cage to cage shooting them, often not with one shot: puppies placed in bags and dropped on the roadside, kittens drowned, cats dumped in the bush to become predators on our already threatened wildlife, dogs let go to join up with others to form dangerous packs to farm animals.
I urge the populace to write to the SBRC or contact your Division councillor to have the negotiations opened again.
I can remember hearing firsthand about a council pound, not here but in another part of Queensland, which shot stray dogs after holding them for about a week. Cats they bashed on the head with a brick because it was cheaper. This was last century but actually not all that long ago. Then there was the TV news video of a dogcatcher catching strays and shooting them while they were tied up on the back of his truck! They weren’t even making it back to the pound!! Their bodies went straight to the tip, some still half-alive. This is what some people are like they will do whatever is cheapest and whatever they can get away with to save money.
Is this boiling down to a lease time agreement? The RSPCA is a business and the council is a form of business as well, we get that. A 1-year lease for this type of organisation isn’t fair or good; five years gives breathing space to plan ahead.
To simply expect animal rehoming by any individual animal shelters on a continuous basis is not only unreal it is illogical. Animal shelters do help, however, they have difficult times with funding and the increase in intakes of stray or voluntary animal handovers will spiral. Extra land, staff and maintenance would eventually be required as well as living space at the shelters, necessary for each animal.
Where are the animals, not only dogs or cats but all animals, going to be housed and proper care maintained?
The council really needs to take a more empathetic and understanding stance in this case.