Our questions, their answers
Questions submitted in writing by The Gazette to Baw Baw Shire relating to purchase of Utopia Pet Lodge and answers, in writing, received on December 2 and attributed to Director Planning and Economic Development Matthew Cripps.
Q: Is the lodge still open six days per week (Monday-Saturday) and some public holidays? Is it staffed by BBSC employees?
A: The operating hours of Utopia Pet Lodge have not been altered since the change of ownership.
Q: Is an employee living on site full-time, if not, what is happening to the house and who feeds, waters and checks the dogs and cats boarding there?
A: Conditions of employment are not appropriate for discussion within the public realm.
Q: Was a business case put to council when considering buying Utopia? If so, how much (nett) revenue stream would it produce for the council?
A: The purchase of Utopia Pet Lodge was a significant decision for council and the appropriate due diligence was undertaken prior to its purchase.
The financials of the business are commercial in confidence and have been provided to the prior and current council.
Q: The budget allocation for the pound will fall short by about $400,000 (not an insignificant amount). What has been dropped from the capital works program this year because of that?
A: The capital works program for 2016/17 remains unchanged to date, however, as per usual practices, this will be reviewed as part of the mid-year budget review.
In the meantime, officers are continuing to revise the scope of the animal pound project.
Written questions and answers received on October 27 attributable to Mr Cripps.
Q: Is the pound up and running at Longwarry North?
A: No. council is working on a plan to commission the site which is anticipated to occur this financial year.
Q: If not, what’s the build time and what’s required (at what cost)?
A: Council is investigating existing structures for the purpose and suitability of pound related activities.
Q: Confirm the date council acquired Utopia? A: August 10, 2016. Q: Is the facility operating now? A: Yes, as an animal boarding kennel (not a pound facility).
Q: Who’s operating the facility? Are the old owners still in the business (Council contracting them to run the business)?
A: Council staff who are fully qualified are operating and managing the boarding facility.
Q: What is the additional revenue stream for council? What does the business case indicate (revenue expected to be made from the business)?
A: Council has continued to operate the business in line with the previous owners’ business model while it investigates alternate arrangements.
Q: House on site? Is there a caretaker on site after hours?
A: Yes (there is a) house on site. We have appropriate security measures in place to protect the wellbeing of guests of the animal boarding facility.
Q: What qualifications are required to run the Utopia, does the staff have such qualifications?
A: All staff go through a competitive recruitment process and are suitably qualified to perform duties.
The staff appointed to manage Utopia Boarding Kennels and Accommodation are qualified as per the code of practice for the operation of boarding establishments.