Tenders in for RSPCA’s new shelter

TENDER applicants are being assessed for the new Toowoomba RSPCA facility near Wellcamp, with construction due to start in February.

The project, which previously had a tentative start date of December, has had five companies apply for its development.

“Tenders have been out and have come in and we are working through those now to get the details,” RSPCA Queensland CEO Mark Townend said.

“We shall award the successful applicant in late January and then construction should start within a matter of weeks.”

Mr Townend said the construction and land costs would come to $12 million. Earlier this year RSPCA Queensland received a $4.8 million grant from the federal government for the facility, however more funding is needed.

“It’s a big project and we are currently just under $2 million short - we don’t want to borrow the money,” Mr Townend said.

“There have been individual donors who have been very good to us and there will be a couple more around we think.

“We’ll also run public campaigns where people can buy a pave stone in the entrance, which should help raise the money”

Mr Townend said the fundraising campaign would encompass the state, and that he was positive they would raise the funds.

“We’ve had a great response from the public already,” he said.

“The government gave us $4.8 million, but we have raised more than $5 million (for the project) over the past two years through campaigns.”