Camden Council has released a preliminary concept layout design for the future Camden Animal Shelter, Community Nursery and Community Education Hub at Smeaton Grange.

The $10 million Camden Animal Shelter and $4 million Community Nursey projects are proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program.

The purpose-built animal shelter will include adoption viewing areas with meet and greet spaces, designated exercise yards, enrichment spaces and a walking track, reception area, staff workspaces, public amenities and a multipurpose function room that will offer community outreach programs.

The community nursery will be used to propagate and grow trees, shrubs and groundcover species that will be used in landscaping and restoration projects delivered by Council. Plants will also be made available to the community through regular plant giveaways, encouraging and supporting native gardens and bushland restoration on private land.

Construction is expected to start in mid-2025.

Mayor of Camden, Cr Ashleigh Cagney said she was eager to see the project come to fruition.

“To have this designated animal shelter and nursery will be incredible for our area and I’m very excited to see work begin next year,” she said.

“I encourage everyone to check out the concept design on this exciting project.”

The concept design can be viewed online at www.yourvoice.camden.nsw.gov.au/cas or in person at:

• Camden Show, on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 March at Camden Showground;
• An information afternoon on Wednesday 20 March, between 4pm and 7pm on site at 55 Topham Road, Smeaton Grange; and
• Paws in the Park on Sunday 5 May at Camden Bicentennial Equestrian Park.