Aussie Ark and AGL announce launch of new veterinary facility

Conservation organisation, Aussie Ark and one of Australia’s leading energy companies AGL have announced the launch of their world-class veterinary facility – ‘Vet Block’ - at the Ark.

The Vet Block is a significant example of community-driven conservation and demonstrates how successfully wildlife organisations can work with private and corporate partners for the greater good.

The Vet Block was made and donated by AGL’s Bayswater Power Station. Since the project began in February 2023, construction involved 50 people across dozens of trades investing 2000+ labour hours. This workforce was a combination of AGL employees and independent contractors including Select Industrial Services, Pumps & Pipeline Services Muswellbrook, and PRO Solar & Electrical.

The main structure consists of two large steel shipping containers, custom modified inside to contain a veterinary clinic and several different enclosures to suit any animal at the Ark.

Aussie Ark Operations Manager Dean Reid said it has totally rtransformed operations noting “in the past animals in need of care had to be transferred offsite to external vets and hospitals. We really needed a place onsite where our precious animals could be treated immediately, housed safely and monitored directly by our staff.”

Built at Bayswater Power Station, the Vet Block was then trucked up to the Ark in the Barrington Tops. From the minute it was finished it has been in constant use, including recent high-profile Koala and Eastern Quoll health checks by specialist vets.

At time of launch the Vet Block housed a handful of animals in care including Grevillea the Koala and orphan joeys Petey the Parma Wallaby and Buttercup the Rufous Bettong.

Bayswater’s Head of Maintenance & Outages Mitch Seears said it was particularly special to get close to the Bettong; the species directly sponsored by AGL for over five years.

Seears shared “seeing what the facility provides and seeing the animals is really rewarding. We utilised our skills to really build something that added so much value to the team up here. And the finished product is amazing.”

Planning, Reliability & Business Process Manager Peter Morgan was the main project manager, overseeing design, R&D with principal stakeholders, equipment purchasing and organising resources across many different companies. He said it was powerful for Aussie Ark and AGL to collaborate on the project; two different ‘industries’ coming together for the protection of endangered Australian animals.

AGL Community Relations Manager Jo Ferguson added “AGL is highly mindful of the responsibility we have towards the environment and our partnership with Aussie Ark is an extension of that.”

Aussie Ark Board Director Chris Chapman also highlighted the unique blend of community and conservation effort in the Vet Block project, and the importance of such partnerships.

“Aussie Ark is a not-for-profit registered charity that is dependent on donations from the public, be it private individuals or be it corporate,” Chapman said. “And AGL’s given a very significant donation to Aussie Ark with this veterinary facility.”

Another stunning addition to the Vet Block was thanks to the James N Kirby Foundation, who donated 30 x 475w solar panels to power the facility 24 hours a day.

“I’ve always been very concerned about climate change,” Foundation Director James Kirby shared. “So to be able to provide solar panels is helping climate change as well as conservation.”

The Vet Block is situated alongside the Interpretative Centre at Aussie Ark’s Barrington Tops facility and will be in full use again soon when a Koala specialist capture and care team return to the Ark for the next stage of the Koala Sanctuary mission.

If you’d like to help Aussie Ark with its vital work saving Australia’s endangered animals and expanding its efforts as they’ve done with the Vet Block please donate now  

Image top. AGL Bayswater Head of Maintenance & Outages Mitch Seears with Eastern Quoll 4 Credit: Aussie Ark; Image below: AGL Bayswater's Mitch Seears & Jo Ferguson & Abby Jones with Eastern Quoll Credit: Aussie Ark