MP Andy Meddick is lobbying the include funding for a new Ballarat Animal Shelter in the May state budget

Mayor Daniel Moloney confirmed several potential locations had been identified for a new $14 million complex in industrial areas around town.

Cr Moloney and Western Victoria MP and Animal Justice Party member Andy Meddick visited the existing shelter on Monday where Mr Meddick confirmed he would lobby for the state government to include funding for the project in the May budget.

"The Ballarat animal shelter and pound is doing a sterling job out of a facility that was never intended for that purpose," he said.

"Ballarat and surrounding areas are a growth node and we only expect the population will increase and as a result companion animal ownership will increase, and reliance on this facility will increase as well."

Cr Moloney said council was looking to finalise the business case for a new shelter which included assessing what support would come from government and council in funding the project.

"We are at a point where the current animal shelter does need an overhaul, which would be expensive, or a new site," he said.

The Ballarat Animal shelter services not just Ballarat but Hepburn, Golden Plains and Pyrenees in addition to supporting councils right through western Victoria.

"They really need to be able to move in to a purpose-built, purpose-designed facility that can cater not just for the animals they have moving through now but into the future," Mr Meddick said.

"(Council) has land identified, a building design, they know what they need and it's shovel ready.

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"I will put in a bid with the state government to ask them to fund it because I believe it's worthwhile funding. It's not the RSPCA so they don't have other funding to pull from to build this ... it really needs state government support."

Cr Moloney said the new facility would include more open space to allow for emergency accommodation of livestock and other animals in times of bushfire, flood or natural disaster.

The Ballarat shelter, like most across the state, also provides temporary emergency accommodation for pets caught up in situations of domestic violence.

It also works with school groups and disability groups to provide training.

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