PATH TO POUND

February 2016

New pound options Council identifies three sites for a new pound subject to community consultation. Galloway St rebuild - $1.3m Normanby St, Warragul - $770,000 Lardner - $931,000

June 2016

Council announces a new option has emerged but does not release details.

August 2016

Purchase Privately run business and property - Utopia Pet Lodge at Longwarry North purchased for $1.2m. Council will run a pet boarding facility with revenue from the business to offset a new animal pound co-located on the site. Expected cost to upgrade facilities for pound - $150,000.

December 2016

No justification Council refuses to release details of due diligence and business case that supported its decision to purchase Utopia.

May 2017

Cost blowout Council admits estimates to upgrade facilities at Utopia to cater for a pound could reach $500,000 – allocates additional funds in draft budget.

June 2017

No revenue Council report reveals Utopia is running at a loss and costs associated with a new pound at the Longwarry North property will be $741,000.

Close Utopia

Decision to close Utopia and convert boarding facility for animal pound at expected cost of $350,000.

Costs Revealed

- Council paid a negotiated price of $1.2 million for Utopia based on valuations of $970,000 for property and $115,000 for business. Operational losses of running Utopia over nine month period - $59,000.