Gunnedah is defending its claim of being the koala capital of the world, with the first sod being turned on Stage 3 of the Gunnedah Koala Sanctuary yesterday.
Wielding the golden shovel was Minister for Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional New South Wales and Minister for Western New South Wales, Tara Moriarty, with Gunnedah Shire Mayor Colleen Fuller looking on, after a brief tour of the building that will house the koala hospital.
“We were always known as the koala capital of the world,” Mayor Fuller said, “And we still are proud to say that we are.”
“So this will be a benefit to us as well, a much bigger investment for Gunnedah as well, tourism wise.”
The combined tourism and koala medical facility represents a $22.7 million investment into the town, which Gunnedah Shire Council hopes will be up completed by the end of the year, with Dubbo-based builder David Payne Construction leading the building work.
When completed, the entire complex will consist of conference facilities, glamping accommodation, caravan parking, and a series of wildlife exhibits, and not just for koalas.
Most importantly, there will be a full suite of medical facilities to treat sick and injured koalas, including three separate treatment suites and an X-ray room.
The treatment rooms, each with both internal external doors, will allow koalas to be kept isolated while being cared for.
“So, they’ll all be treated individually because we don’t know what diseases or what problems they may be facing,” Fuller said.
“We need to protect as many of them as we can,” Moriarty said, “the hospital facilities are incredibly important.”
“They’re often at risk because we’re urbanising a lot of our regional communities, and koalas can be impacted by disease, but also road trauma, and other issues.”
Moriarty said the hospital would be opening “very soon”, though a firm timeline for when that is, or who will run the care side of things, has yet to be set.
“Protecting the koalas that are of this region, right here in the facility with the number of rooms that will be available and the number of facilities that will be available to provide the services that they need, is a great thing for koalas, the koalas of this region, but also for the community.”
Tourism will play a large role in providing value for the site, generating revenue for Gunnedah and the sanctuary itself.
Accommodation would also be provided for volunteer cares who wish to donate their time to help with the koala, which is what Stage 3 hopes to complete, according to Gunnedah Shire Council Project Manager Phillip Lindfield.
“Stage three consists of a caretaker’s residence, and a volunteer accommodation building for volunteers to come and join,” Lindfield said.
“The facility also involves the construction of an amenities building, which would be associated with the glamping tents, and it will have an RV park or a campervan park.”
“We’re anticipating it’ll largely be complete in December this year.”
“However, post that there’s some establishment work for council to do to get the facility up and running, so more likely to be sort of into March, April.”
Stage Four, Lindfield said, would be the completion of food preparation facilities to feed staff, or to be used by those renting the conference hall.
No firm operators, nor process for tendering for operators has yet to be put in place, with the facility likely not to be run by Gunnedah Shire Council.
Even though the accommodation facilities have yet to be built, the park has already got one firm booking from a guest with the glamping tents finally open up.
“I’m going to book a room right now for when I’m back for Ag-Quip, and I really look forward to seeing the benefits for the Gunnedah community and the broader region from these fantastic facilities,” Moriarty said.
“People will come and be able to stay the night, be able to see the treatments for our very precious koalas that are happening here, provide support for the treatment for these koalas that we will need to take care of, enjoy lunch and a cup of coffee and this beautiful region.”
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