The immediate response and care of injured wildlife in the NSW Northern Rivers region will be strengthened by a new care and training facility linked to Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital.

The Wildlife Vet Accommodation and Training Centre at Knockrow is funded by $401,500 from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund under the joint Australian and NSW Governments Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements and $100,000 from the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital.

The facility will be used to provide emergency overnight accommodation for visiting wildlife vets in times of high demand, including natural disasters and during onsite training programs.

The building includes sleeping quarters and amenities, and a dedicated meeting space for training vets, nurses and local volunteers and wildlife carers. 

By providing accommodation, the facility will reduce the financial burden on the charity-run Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, particularly given the high cost of accommodation in the popular tourist region.

Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital is the Northern Rivers first all-species wildlife hospital and operates Australia’s only mobile wildlife hospital from a custom-built semi-trailer named ‘Matilda’.

Matilda can be deployed to the scene of a natural disaster such as a bushfire, flood, mass stranding or disease outbreak impacting wildlife on a large scale.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said, “When disasters strike, our wildlife suffers badly, and it is our amazing animal carers, at all levels from vets to volunteers, who step in without hesitation and do their amazing work.

“We’ve all seen the heartbreaking images of our beautiful native animals struggling during bushfires and floods. Ensuring our vets, nurses and all our wildlife carers have quality training facilities is one way we can help support their vital work.

“The people who will come through this facility do an amazing thing for our community. This project, funded through the Australian and NSW Governments, is a testament to what can be achieved to support regional recovery and preparedness.” 

Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said, “As your local MP, I’m proud to be delivering more than $400,00 in joint funding from the Federal and NSW Labor Governments for the Wildlife Vet Accommodation and Training Centre at Knockrow.

“This new facility will provide on-site accommodation for the team at Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital to support them to continue their important veterinary work rehabilitating native animals and leading the way for wildlife protection across the North Coast.

“I’m also delivering on my $2 million election commitment for the expansion of operations at the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital.”

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said, “By providing on-site accommodation, Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital can host trainees and emergency response teams without the extra cost of housing them in one of the state’s busiest tourist regions. Making sure resources can go directly into training, care and responding to disasters rather than into accommodation bills.

"This new facility will allow specialist training to be delivered on site in the Northern Rivers, helping equip vets, nurses and local carers with the skills they need to respond.

“This project will support local communities and the people who dedicate their lives to protecting native animals.”

Minister for Recovery and North Coast, Janelle Saffin, said, “I am a long-time supporter of the great work the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital does each and every day for our local wildlife.

“This fantastic new facility will give that extra boost and support that our wildlife need in times of disaster and train our future wildlife veterinarians to help.

“It’s another important step towards creating a more resilient Northern Rivers for all who call it home.’

Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital Founder and CEO Dr Stephen Van Mil said, “NSW faces a chronic workforce shortage in the veterinary sector, exacerbated in specialised areas such as wildlife care.

“This facility incentivises visiting locum vets, nurses and students to come to our region by providing accommodation conveniently located near their place of work and or training at Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital.

“We’re grateful to the Australian and NSW Governments for supporting this important initiative to protect biodiversity, facilitate skills development and jobs growth.”