By Alesha Capone
Plans for an $83.83 million expansion of Werribee Open Range Zoo include a treetop sky safari, covering 1.6 kilometres, which will give visitors views of the entire facility.
Zoo director Glen Holland spoke at a Committee for Wyndham meeting last week, held via the online platform Zoom, in which he revealed new details of the planned expansion.
The plans, which are still in the early stages and subject to funding approval from the state government, include the $27.76 million sky safari.
The treetop sky safari will be constructed as a gondola system, stretching across the zoo, with a capacity to accommodate 1200 people per hour (one way).
Mr Holland said the sky safari will provide 360-degree views of the zoo savannah, the You Yangs, Melbourne’s CBD and the bay beyond.
The zoo’s expansion plans also include a 400-seat Water Hole Cafe with indoor and outdoor eating areas, providing diners with views of some animals. The cafe will serve as a prelude to the elephant sanctuary walking loop.
As previously reported, as part of the expansion, Zoos Victoria’s herd of Asian Elephants will be relocated to Werribee, where they will live in a 22-hectare open range, naturalistic setting.
A new walking trail will guide visitors through an immersive large landscape where the elephants roam.
Mr Holland said a new carpark with 1000 spaces may also be built at Werribee zoo.
An economic impact assessment completed by Ernst & Young, for Zoos Victoria, has found that the expansion – once it is fully operational – will create around 199 new direct and indirect jobs across the state.
Mr Holland said that ideally, the zoo’s expansion would be completed across five years, but that it might take longer.
Pending funding of the zoo expansion’s final design from the state government, the planning permit process for the project could begin in October 2020 and construction could start next year.
Zoos Victoria is offering free virtual excursion programs for school students throughout term three, with paid programs to commence from term four.
Details: www.zoo.org.au/education/zoo-education-online/
