1st June 2012 - One Step Closer to Fever Hospital

Yesterday afternoon Wellington City Council released a statement on their draft Long-Term plan, including a set of recommendations from Council Officers to the Council’s Strategy and Policy Committee (made up of Councillors and the Mayor).

The Long Term Plan is the process which determines what Council projects will happen in the next ten years. In the original draft the funding for the earthquake strengthening of the Fever Hospital site,... Wellington SPCA’s proposed new centre, had been left off the list of agreed works.

Following the public consultation phase, one of the key recommendations for change from the draft was that: Wellington City Council jointly fund, with the SPCA making a very significant contribution of almost half a million dollars, about $900,000 of earthquake strengthening and renovation work on the historic Chest Hospital on the Town Belt above Newtown so the SPCA can relocate there.

The Strategy and Policy Committee will now spend the coming week debating these decisions and determining how key funding proposals - including Fever Hospital - can be achieved financially.

Wellington SPCA Chief executive Iain Torrance says this is a fantastic outcome for Wellington SPCA.

“While the final decision has yet to be made, it puts Wellington SPCA in a favourable stance with regards to finding our new home. There is now every likelihood that the Society could be operating at the old Fever Hospital site by this time next year.”

Iain says that the Society put forward a strong and compelling submission to the Council.

“I am absolutely rapt that the submission has been well received. In reconsidering their original stance, the Wellington City Council have listened to what we had to say as well as the publics’ voice; the incredible amount of community support shown via our petition and rally campaigns definitely helped our cause.”

Iain believes that the support shown by the public was the difference-maker in this process.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported and believed in the Rehome SPCA project over the past several months. After more than eight years we are now close to realizing our long-held dream of a new home for animals in need.”