Charlotte Varcoe
THE South East Animal Welfare League (SEAWL) has rejected an eight-month extension of its tri-party funding agreement between Mount Gambier City Council and Grant District Council.
The extension came as its five year tri-party funding agreement was scheduled to end in coming months, with councils electing to instead go to tender for the animal shelter services.
In 2014, the two councils signed on with the welfare league to provide ongoing funds to help with operational costs.
As part of the agreement, councils were able to take dogs at large captured by council out to the facility.
Initially, Mount Gambier City Council provided about $28,000 while Grant District Council provided about $11,500.
In 2019, the agreement was re-signed with City Council providing $45,000 and Grant Council providing $15,000.
In the past financial year, City Council has 67 dogs sent to the league with Grant Council having 17.
Within recent months, both councils have discussed the future of the welfare league in confidence during council meetings.
Last Friday, welfare league president Trevor Twilley was approached by City Council with the extension request.
Grant District Council also approached the league on Monday.
During a board meeting on Monday night, there was a unanimous decision to decline the offer and not accept dogs brought to the league by council as of July 1.
Both councils are also expected to hand in their keys to the league before June 30.
Speaking with The Border Watch, Mr Twilley said although he could not divulge in the reasons behind the decision because of confidentiality agreements signed by board members, he could state they believed the league had been kept in the dark and in limbo over the past year.
“Both councils are going to keep SEAWL in the dark for another eight months and during that eight months who knows what is going to happen and whether we are going to be kept in limbo for a further period of time,“ Mr Twilley said.
“Despite repeated requests by SEAWL for councils to advice us on what services they wish to procure, nothing has been forthcoming and we have been kept in the dark.“
Mr Twilley also expressed disappointment in councils discussing the league’s future behind closed doors and questioned its intentions.
“The decision not to go ahead with the extension was unanimous and moving forward we will have to review our finances in order to continue to operate and we will also seek some corporate sponsors to help us along the way,“ he said.
“We will be relying on the generosity of the community moving forward to help us operate and through the generosity of the community we are able to do that, especially with our volunteers who gave $151,000 worth of unpaid work.“
He said the welfare of animals was a major concern of board members during its discussion earlier this week, however it decided the welfare of the animals would “fall back on council“
“Council have had significant time to put something in place and being kept in the dark and not knowing council’s intensions or plans has been a major concern,“ he said.
Despite this, Mr Twilley said he, staff and board members were “reasonably confident“ that with the support of the community, donations and fundraisers, the league would be able to continue operating.
Mount Gambier City Council general manager corporate and regulatory services Jane Fetherstonhaugh said council elected to “tighten its procurement policy“ hence putting it out for tender.
“The current tri-party agreement was established outside councils procurement policy and given the value of the agreement, we are obliged to consider a competitive process,“ Ms Fetherstonhaugh said.
“Impending legislation changes around the dog and cat management act is also likely to include the addition of cat management which also needed to be factored in for consideration.“
She said the initial agreement was a “council contract“ and therefore needed to go out for procurement, making it a competitive process.
“While we continue to support SEAWL and speak with them, we have a back up plan with these existing arrangements and as of June 30, we will be looking at other arrangement with organisations while still providing the service of picking up stray dogs,“ Ms Fetherstonhaugh said.
“We are going to step up our efforts to reunite dogs with their owners and if they are unclaimed we will look at other arrangements with other organisations in other areas or may look at getting help with other councils.“
She said council was still open to SEAWL requesting donations.
Grant District Council chief executive Darryl Whicker said council had to be responsible for public funds, with the combined value of the tri-party agreement meeting the requirements for a quotation process to be undertaken.
“Moving forward, we are working alongside Mount Gambier City Council who are taking the lead in the procurement process to find out the availability and market conditions for animal pound conditions,“ Mr Whicker said.
“The scope is still being developed which was the reason for the extension request and will canvass what is existing in the marketplace and then we will make decisions around what is the best fit in regards to animal safety and management as well as public value for money.“
Mr Whicker said he was confident council has the resources and capability to deal with impounded dogs during the time taken to procure future services with Grant District Council having four dog pens.
“To put the numbers in perspective, there were 17 dogs to date this financial year and I don’t recall any time where there were more than four dogs kept at council at any one time,“ he said.
“Grant District Council respects the decision of SEAWL and thanks them for their past work in regards to the tri-party agreement and encourages them to be a part of future procurement processes.“