Watch this space – barren eyesore to green oasis
December 22, 2022
Progress on a new care, rehabilitation and adoption centre for the state’s most vulnerable animals is well underway, with earthworks now complete at RSPCA South Australia’s Animal Care Campus ahead of construction beginning early next year.
At 10am today the first tree will be planted on the O’Halloran Hill site as part of a forest to provide feed for the native animals and birds coming in for veterinary treatment at the Campus’ wildlife hospital.
The feed forest is being funded by a $20k grant from the federal government to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II on her Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.
RSPCA SA CEO Paul Stevenson said the forest would not only provide shade and feed for the animals, but would also serve as a lasting legacy to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on 8 September 2022.
“Queen Elizabeth was our charity’s royal patron and her love of animals was one of many things that endeared her to so many people,’ Mr Stevenson said.
“Planting this forest for wildlife is a very fitting way to honour Her Majesty’s 70 years of service as Australia’s Head of State.”
The new Campus, being built on the corner of South and Majors Roads at O’Halloran Hill, is located within the community precinct of Glenthorne National Park. (The land has been leased to the RSPCA by the State Government at a peppercorn rate for 70 years.)
The Campus sits within the electorate of Kingston, and this morning the Member for Kingston, Amanda Rishworth, will plant the very first tree – a Blue Gum, the preferred food source of koalas.
Adelaide landscapers Wax Design is overseeing the planting of the 70 trees that will form the RSPCA Queen’s Jubilee Forest. In total, around 250 indigenous native trees will be planted across the seven hectare site, with the larger Eucalypts maturing in time to 20-30 metres in height.
“We hope our community enjoys witnessing the transformation of this barren site into a green, shady oasis for animals in need, and a place where, for the first time, injured and ill wildlife will have 24/7 access to veterinary treatment,” Mr Stevenson said.
A capital fundraising campaign is now underway to have the Campus built by February 2024. Donations to make up a $3m funding shortfall can be made online at: carecampus.rspcasa.org.au