Community & Business
19 May, 2023
Charges waived for new vet surgery
A NEW veterinary surgery that will be the largest in the region will not have to pay $66,640 in infrastructure charges to Tablelands Regional Council after having the fees waived under the council’s investment incentive scheme.
Under its policy introduced in June last year, council can waive infrastructure charges to encourage the construction of affordable medium-density development and the development of “strategically important industries” which has been applied to Tableland Veterinary Services’ (TVS) new project to be established on Atherton-Herberton Road.
Council officers deemed the business met the requirements of the policy because of its involvement in research and education, and also considered the increased services that would be provided to the agriculture industry, established research partnerships and the new jobs that would be created.
“TVS provides veterinary services across the Tablelands region, supporting primary producers including dairy farmers, beef cattle farmers and piggeries,” a council report stated.
“It will mostly cater for small animals but will also support the TVS group in its delivery of ser-vices to all animals especially primary producers. It will also be used for education and training purposes, catering to students and education providers. TVS has a significant educational and research focus which has resulted in TVS becoming a recognised provider in undergraduate and post-graduate training.”
According to the report, TVS currently trains all final year James Cook University (JCU) Bachelor of Veterinary Science students and have done so since the start of the course in 2006.
“TVS hosts JCU students in groups of 6-8 for three-week rotations for approximately 40 weeks of the year. Two TVS staff lecture within the Bachelor of Veterinary Science at JCU,” the report stated.
“In 2022, TVS were approached by City University Hong Kong Jockey Club’s School of Veterinary Medicine and similarly hosted their final year students for a two-week placement in November. This contract has been extended for five years.”
