Blue Mountains Association for the Protection and Care of Animals (BMAPCA) was established as an Association in 2023
to fight for the ongoing existence of the Blue Mountains Animal Shelter, based in Katoomba.
There is a desperate and ongoing need for this facility, both to care for and rehome lost or unwanted animals,
and to protect wildlife from animals who would be dumped in our National Park if no shelter existed.
BMCC was gifted the shelter in 2023 by RSPCA NSW and had promised Blue Mountains Residents
that they would operate it as a full shelter taking in impound and surrendered animals.
The Blue Mountains Animal Care Centre opened in 2024 in the Mort St space under the control of the Administrative arm of BMCC
In August 2025, councillors ratified a Companion Animal Management Plan that had the Mort St facility operating only as a statuatory impound facility
and not taking surrender animals at all.
Initially this shelter was established by local people and its running costs have been more than covered through local donations, shop operation and fundraising.
While RSPCA NSW was managing the shelter, the CEO, who appears to not understand what a charity is or what it does,
lamented that this facility was not running at a profit!!!!????.
1. Transparency from BMCC. Council must make its secret discussions, internally and with other organisations like with RSPCA NSW, public.
2. If council is not going to run the Mort St facility as a full animal shelter then
ownership/operation of the site has to be ceded to a local organisation or organisations to retain, fund and manage the facility.
This/these organisations would reporting to its own local membership or the people of the Blue Mountains
and have the tasks of operating the Facility, organising the volunteers, fundraising activities and servicing the council’s need for an impound facility.
President: Jimmy Carothers
Vice-President: Bob Kemnitz
Secretary: Bob Kemnitz
Acting Treasurer: Bob Kemnitz
This facility should be run in the same way that Silvia Ford and the Blue Mountains Branch of RSPCA ran the shelter.
The original purchase of the land for this shelter, was entirely paid for by the fundraising of the Blue Mountains Branch of RSPCA in 1980,
as was the subsequent construction of the shelter buildings and site improvements.
The shelter was operated by the Blue Mountains Branch of RSPCA, from inception until 2002, and was entirely financially independent,
having also acquired by fundraising and bequests, two freehold shops in the main streets of Katoomba and Springwood,
and a number of leasehold shops, used for the sale of donated and new goods.
Additional income was derived from Blue Mountains City Council, who contracted its statutory animal pound requirement to the shelter,
on a fee for service basis; the sale of animals to new homes, and the private boarding of owned animals.
We are committed to making a difference in the lives of animals, and we believe that with your help,
we can create a world where all animals are safe, healthy and loved.
The BMAPCA meets on the first Saturday of each month, at 10.30 am,
at the Mid Mountains Community Centre (Joy Anderson room), 7 or 9 New Street, Lawson (UBD map 22, P 14)
