A new 8.9 hectare facility where the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service’s detector dogs will be bred and trained was opened recently by Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice Jason Clare.
“The new facility allows dogs and their handlers to be trained in the latest methods which they’ll use to detect drugs, weapons or explosives into Australia,” Mr Clare said.
Minister Clare noted that the facility cost $5.3 million which was $1.4 million under budget and was delivered on-time.
Minster Claire continued to state that the new facility featured:

• A simulation and training building;
• Mock airport baggage handling facilities;
• Multiple dog day runs;
• Two houses that simulate typical residential homes;
• A kennel support hub including a vet clinic with digital x-ray, surgical theatre, ultrasound and endoscopic equipment;
• More spacious and hygienic kennels for the dogs;
• Access to a hydrotherapy pool for injured or aged dogs;
• Staff training rooms that have modern teaching aids, including an integrated facility-wide wireless video library; and
• Ability for other areas of Customs and Border Protection to use the facility (video conference facility, training rooms, training houses for premises search training).