Wildlife hospital for Sanctuary

CURRUMBIN Wildlife Sanctuary has a new $1.5 million Community Wildlife Hospital to ensure continued first-class treatment for the region’s sick, injured and orphaned native wildlife.

The hospital has been the sanctuary’s largest capital project over the last year and will provide a base for the sanctuary’s veterinary staff as well as providing space for researchers in a number of cooperative conservation research projects.

Stage 1 was funded through proceeds from Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s commercial activities as well as public donations and partnership support from Gold Coast Airport and the Tugun branch of Bendigo Bank.

Federal Government funding of $346,933 has been secured for Stage 2, which will include an interpretive community native garden trail and native bird rehabilitation facility.

Queensland National Trust president Dr John Jackson, says the timeframe to complete the project was challenged by economic conditions.

“It was a very important National Trust of Queensland Green Guardian project that we did not want to delay any longer,” says Jackson.

“Our staff and volunteers, have worked in a very unsatisfactory building for many years and they have been a real model of caring professionals.”

Recently, with the Moreton Bay oil spill, the hospital was instrumental in treating pelicans which were eventually returned back to the wild.

Founding ‘green guardian’ sponsor of the new hospital Gold Coast Airport, has been actively involved in bringing the new hospital to fruition since the initial planning phase.

“With estimated operating costs of around $500,000 each year, the sanctuary will continue to rely on the local business community and public donations to provide the best possible care for the increasing number of injured wildlife coming through the doors,” says Gold Coast Airport chief operating officer Paul Donovan.

“Gold Coast Airport has a long-term, genuine commitment to environmental stewardship and see this sponsorship as valuable way of giving back to the community we serve.”

In addition to the care of injured wildlife, the hospital will also provide a base for researchers involved in a number of important conservation projects.