Published on Monday, 11 May 2026 at 12:03:00 PM
Possum Valley Animal Sanctuary is celebrating a meaningful boost to its operations after receiving funding through Shire of Mundaring’s Community Program Grant.
The grant has enabled the sanctuary to purchase two new water troughs and two hay huts—essential pieces of equipment that are already making a significant difference to the care of their rescued animals.
Owner and Sanctuary President Chris Rafferty said the upgrades have helped improve both daily operations and animal wellbeing.
The new water troughs replace old tubs that required constant refilling and were often knocked over by animals. With the new system in place, the sanctuary can now provide a consistent supply of clean, fresh water.
At the same time, the addition of hay huts is helping to keep feed dry, clean and protected in the large animal paddocks – an important improvement for the sanctuary’s horses, goats and sheep.
“The acquisition of the two water troughs will save volunteer time, as tubs will no longer need to be filled daily, and ensure reliable, clean water is available at all times to rescued lambs and goats – something that’s imperative during the hot summer months,” Chris said.
“The hay huts are an absolute game changer for our large animals, keeping their feed rolls dry and clean, and reducing waste significantly.”
Previously, hay would often be trampled or spoiled when animals rolled in it, leading to unnecessary waste and added cost. The new huts are already helping to stretch resources further while maintaining the quality of feed.
Like many community organisations, Possum Valley Animal Sanctuary operates with limited funding and increasing costs, making it difficult to invest in larger infrastructure items.
“Operational costs are continually rising, which means we rarely have funds for capital items,” Chris said.
“We simply couldn’t have funded these much-needed additions without this very generous grant.”
The impact of the funding can already be seen across the sanctuary, with animals making full use of their upgraded facilities – from horses enjoying their first hay roll under shelter, to curious goats inspecting (and even climbing on) the new troughs.
Chris encouraged other local groups to explore the opportunity of community funding.
“We would encourage others to give it a go. The Shire is a great support to the local community, and a grant may be just what your organisation needs to fund important items.”
Shire of Mundaring’s Community Program Grant continues to support local organisations delivering positive outcomes across the region – helping turn practical ideas into reality and strengthening the community as a whole.
You can learn more about the Shire’s funding opportunities on our website.
Back to All News