Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch believes he will be able to soon cut the ribbon to open the CAPS animal welfare facility after discussions about the centre were fast-tracked.

Last week’s Cape York Weekly was the most read edition since publishing began and the front page story about the future of the $2 million facility generated plenty of discussion in the community.

“It was a story that had to be written and I’m glad you did because we now have everyone moving in the same direction,” Mr Entsch said last week after visiting Weipa and meeting with CAPS.

“It was a very good meeting and I was able to speak with a lot of the key people and I think I’ll be able to be there for an official opening before this year’s election.”

Mr Entsch said he believed that CAPS were now willing to budge on some of the figures it was asking from potential vets to lease the facility.

“They have this big space and this office building which can be leased out to other businesses,” he said.

“I have given them a couple of leads on businesses who may be interested in moving in.

“They also need to open up the kennels for boarding and rescue and get them generating an income.

“Ideally, with time, they can get a full-time manager to oversee the operation.

“But they need to get a vet in there and I believe Tableland Vet Clinic is happy to go in there and do the fit-out providing they aren’t paying too much in rent.”

The CAPS facility was built on the back of a $1.5 million grant from the federal government and support from Weipa organisations, including Rio Tinto and Goodline.

This article appeared in Cape York Weekly, 29 March 2022.

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