WIRES Illawarra’s urgent need for land for a wombat rehabilitation facility in the area has been met warmly by Kiama Council.

WIRES volunteer, Gail Tarrant, requested access to land for a seven by seven metre compound, which will be used as a pre-release facility for wombats needing rehabilitation from bushfire and other trauma.

The compound will include a two by three metre shed for intensive care purposes and will need a security gate. This will be at no cost to Council, with WIRES responsible for its construction and maintenance.

With only one compound nearby, at Robertson, Gail says one is desperately needed in the Illawarra region.

“Right here we’re in wombat central. The Kiama Municipality is where the wombats of the Illawarra predominately reside, in Foxground, Kiama and in Jamberoo.

“When rescue wombats get up to 10kg, they need to go into this facility which essentially wilds them up. Human interaction is limited then, they are weaned off their bottles, and they learn to dig and become wild wombats,” Gail says.

A suitable site for the compound has been identified at Jerrara Dam, and Council has agreed to lease the site for a period of ten years, with a peppercorn rent of $10.

“It doesn’t flood at that particular site, there is a gate for access for us taking food in every day and monitoring the animals. It is off a quiet road, there are no public pathways going through the area and it is a known wombat habitat,” Gail says.

WIRES will put forward a DA for the project now it has owner's consent.