Local wildlife rescue organisations are ramping up, advocating for a purpose-built wildlife hospital to be based in South West Victoria ahead of the State election in November.
It comes after outrage spread across the region following the state government’s announcement last year that a similar facility would be built in Kyabram.
When South West Local News first ran this story on October 27th last year, DEECA’s website drew reference to an election promise of a Wildlife Hospital to be built in South West Victoria.
On November 6th, 2025, that website was modified, and a reference to South West Victoria was replaced with Victoria, raising concern that the urgency of the Wildlife Hospital in our region has been ignored.
Prior to our story, that section of DEECA’s website hadn’t been modified since May 2025.
The announcement also led the owners of Halls Gap Zoo to come forward with the information that they offered a parcel of land to Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos for the facility to be built.
“We had Minister Dimopoulos here at Easter Time (2025), and we brought up a Western Victorian Wildlife Centre here in our front paddocks at the zoo”, Halls Gap Zoo Owner Mark Trewick said.
“At that point, we didn’t know there was a promise at DEECA for that, and we actually brought it up that there was an election promise for that”, he said.
Shortly after the last Victorian election, Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora told Fitzmedia’s Full Story program that due to the distance between Melbourne and the South Australian Border, a Wildlife Hospital is needed here in the region, and that we definitely need a facility.
“The risk for wildlife (in our region) is constant, there is definitely a geographical gap between Melbourne and the border, and we definitely need something in our region”, Jacinta told Full Story in 2023.
“On wildlife rescue, the government is very aware, and there is some terrific engagement going on between DEECA and organisations like Mosswood. There have been numbers run on how many animals are in need of support and what kind of support they need”, she said.
The website edit has reaffirmed the fears of local wildlife rescue and rehabilitation service Mosswood Wildlife, which is operated on private property by volunteers.
“Zoo’s Victoria had 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”, Mosswood Owner / Founder Tracey Wilson 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.
“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.
It’s hoped the urgency of a Wildlife Hospital in our region will lead to an election promise from either the State Liberals or a review by the current Labor Government.
Member for South West Coast, Roma Britnell, has raised the issue in parliament on a number of occasions, first on October 30th 2025 and again on November 21st.
“Our region is home to some of the most dedicated wildlife carers in the state”, Roma said in her November address.
“Places like Mosswood Wildlife are doing amazing work under immense pressure, and they need urgent support; this better not be another broken promise”. She said.
While there is no formal promise on the horizon, it’s hoped that it is considered prior to South West Victorians going to the polls on November 28th.
