Rocky council bows to community backlash over animal pound
ROCKHAMPTON region councillors yesterday bowed to community pressure to scrap plans for an animal pound on industrial land at Waurn St, Kawana.
More than 500 people signed a petition opposing the placement of the pound since the development application was advertised in The Morning Bulletin in October.
Nearby businesses and residents also protested against the $3.5m development, which was set to house 76 dogs, cats and cows.
Cr Stephen Schwarten said Rockhampton Regional Council had lost trust within the community for not publicly consulting people living in the area surrounding the proposed plan.
The plans were first made under acting Mayor Tony Williams when he was head of the Health and Regulations Committee in 2010.
He refused to back down from the former council's decision to put the pound there, explaining council was in dire need of a new pound that was not prone to flooding.
Councillors unanimously decided to put the pound in Kawana under former mayor Brad Carter. But Cr Schwarten said he was not at that meeting.
While Cr Williams stood firm, most other councillors agreed it was best to look for another site.
