Victorian Government Ignores Free Land Offer for Promised South-West Wildlife Vet Centre
The Victorian government has failed to deliver on a 2022 election promise to build a wildlife veterinary clinic in south-west Victoria, despite being offered free land by Halls Gap Zoo owner Mark Treweek. Treweek proposed a 99-year lease at no cost to facilitate the construction of the facility, which was originally pledged with $4.7 million in funding. However, the government has since removed references to the south-west location from its website and instead announced a $2 million wildlife hospital at Kyabram Fauna Park, approximately 300km away. While the government cites immediate opportunities at Kyabram and provides minor grants for local shelters, critics argue this neglects a critical wildlife injury hotspot exacerbated by recent bushfires in the Grampians region. Treweek and several supporting organizations, including local councils and tourism bodies, express disappointment over the lack of response and follow-through. The situation highlights a significant gap in specialized veterinary care for native wildlife in western Victoria, where injured animals often face long transport distances to private practices or distant zoos, resulting in high mortality rates.
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Victorian Government Ignores Free Land Offer for Promised South-West Wildlife Vet Centre
The Victorian government has failed to deliver on a 2022 election promise to build a wildlife veterinary clinic in south-west Victoria, despite being offered free land by Halls Gap Zoo owner Mark Treweek. Treweek proposed a 99-year lease at no cost to facilitate the construction of the facility, which was originally pledged with $4.7 million in funding. However, the government has since removed references to the south-west location from its website and instead announced a $2 million wildlife hospital at Kyabram Fauna Park, approximately 300km away. While the government cites immediate opportunities at Kyabram and provides minor grants for local shelters, critics argue this neglects a critical wildlife injury hotspot exacerbated by recent bushfires in the Grampians region. Treweek and several supporting organizations, including local councils and tourism bodies, express disappointment over the lack of response and follow-through. The situation highlights a significant gap in specialized veterinary care for native wildlife in western Victoria, where injured animals often face long transport distances to private practices or distant zoos, resulting in high mortality rates.
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