Archive for the ‘Animal rescue group SoCares takes on CESSNOCK City council’ Category
Animal rescue group takes on council
JOANNE MCCARTHY
06 Feb, 2012 04:00 AM

Animal rescue group SoCares takes on CESSNOCK City council
CESSNOCK City Council and an animal rescue group are in court today after a challenge to the handover of impounded animal services to the RSPCA. The NSW Land and Environment Court has set aside two days for the Society of Companion Animal Rescuers (SoCares) group’s legal challenge to an agreement between the council and RSPCA in June last year. In a summons lodged with the court in September, the rescue group alleged the decision was invalid and of no effect because the council did not put the matter out to tender. The group, represented by the University of Newcastle Legal Centre, also alleges a council decision on the closure of Kurri Kurri pound was invalid and of no effect.In a report in June last year councillors were advised they could sign the agreement without the matter going to tender under some circumstances. The RSPCA was considered the only organisation with an industry best-practice animal shelter capable of fulfilling council’s legislative responsibilities.
The Kurri Kurri pound was substandard, and had operated on a disused sanitary depot site on Crown land for more 50 years without approval, councillors were told.
The pound operation was raised as an issue during a critical Division of Local Government report into the council.





