Local Wildlife carers in the Western Districts of Victoria have ramped up calls for the State Government to provide a timeline for a dedicated Wildlife Hospital in the South West.
It comes as the State Minister for Environment, Steve Dimopoulos, announced over the weekend that a new $2 million facility will be built in Kyabram Fauna Park, operated by Zoos Victoria.
In the 2023-24 Victorian Budget, the State Labour Government committed $7.2 million over 4 years to fund projects and programs that deliver improved wildlife welfare outcomes across the state.
$4.7 million was allocated for a new wildlife hospital to be built in South-West Victoria and run by Zoos Victoria, to support increased capacity to care for wildlife injured in natural disasters.
But there are now concerns amongst local organisations that the Kyabram Wildlife Hospital will be the only facility built in the state, and that native animals in the region will miss out on dedicated care.
“The news of a new wildlife hospital in Kyabram has come as a complete surprise to us”, Mosswood Wildlife Founder Tracey Wilson said.
“We have been trying to get some clarity on where the State Government is at with the hospital promised for the South West, but there has been radio silence.” She said.
Tracey & Peter Wilson have operated a Wildlife rescue & rehabilitation operation from their property in Koroit for over 19 years, including a dedicated wildlife clinic run by a volunteer veterinarian, funded by donations and volunteers.
Mosswood also has a dedicated rehabilitation area for seabirds such as penguins that wash up on our beaches.
“Zoo’s Victoria has been telling us that it will definitely happen, and our team has been involved in a Stakeholder meeting with them, including our voluntary vet, James”, Tracey said.
“There have never been discussions about it going somewhere else, so we are still assuming it’s happening in our area, so we want to know when”. She said.
In 2023, Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora told Fitzmedia’s Full Story that she would be pushing for the hospital to be built in the region.
“The distance between the South Australian Border and Melbourne is vast, and the risk for wildlife is constant”. The MP said.
“We definitely need something in the region, I don’t think people realise the care that is needed once a rescue occurs – whether it’s a baby or an adult that has been injured”. She said.
“On wildlife rescue, the Government is very aware that there is a need for a purpose-built facility down here, and there has been some terrific engagement going on between Mosswood & DEECA about it”, Jacinta said.
On DEECA’s (Department of Energy, Environment & Climate Action) website, there is a reference to an election commitment made in 2022, and mentions $4.2 million for a new wildlife hospital to be built in south-west Victoria and run by Zoos Victoria.
The page was updated in May of 2025, and states that money was part of the State Government’s Wildlife Care and Protection Initiative to manage priority wildlife issues.
“I am really concerned that this wildlife hospital in Kyabram has come from that same funding commitment, and that we won’t receive the Wildlife Hospital we were promised”, Mosswoods Tracey Wilson said.
“In our discussions with Zoos Victoria, we talked a little bit about how the money allocated in the budget wasn’t enough, which was why Crown Land was needed”. She said.
“We need a wildlife hospital in the South West because of the diverse ecosystem we have down here. We have marine animals washing up on beaches all the time, not to mention bushfires and development”. She said.
“Our facility is the only one of its kind dedicated to the ongoing rescue and rehabilitation of Koalas, injured as a result of fires, and dog attacks in urban areas, not to mention seabirds.”
“I hope that because the State Government is talking about Wildlife Hospitals in other parts of the state, we are close to finding out when & where our Wildlife Hospital will be built”, Tracey said.
South West Local News reached out to Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora for comment, and was yet to hear back at the time of publishing.
The link to the DEECA website referring to the South West’s Wildlife Hospital is here.
A link to the Ministers Announcement of a Wildlife Hospital can be seen here.
