By Charlene Macaulay
Werribee Open Range Zoo is mounting a concerted campaign to get the state funding it needs for a mammoth $87 million expansion that aims to more than double visitor numbers.
Zoo director Glen Holland said while the zoo was chasing a number of options – including philanthropic donations – to bankroll the expansion, “the development will overall still be reliant on state funding”.
The state government has allocated $1 million for zoo expansion planning and design works to date.
“We believe this is an enormously beneficial project for the region and are discussing a level of support from the state government that reflects this,” Mr Holland said.
“Our ongoing discussions with the state government have highlighted the enormous benefits the expansion will bring to the region, and we have expressed our determination to see this project through.
“The redevelopment plans are still subject to change and depend on a number of factors, including the amount of funding secured. With a project this significant, staged implementation and strong feasibility studies along the way are critical.”
As reported by Star Weekly, the proposed expansion will feature a mammoth 20-hectare elephant sanctuary that will house the elephants currently living at Melbourne Zoo.
It will also include an expanded Rhino Retreat to allow breeding on-site; expanding the existing meerkat enclosure to become one
of the world’s biggest; enlarging the lion habitats to fit two prides; a high-wire gondola to connect trails on both sides of the river and give visitors unique views of the zoo grounds; and a range of other immersive experiences aimed at boosting visitation to 1.5 million people per year.
The zoo’s visitor numbers have doubled in the past five years to 600,000 visitors each financial year. Of that, 21 per cent of visitors are Wyndham residents, more than 50 per cent are from Victoria, 6 per cent are interstate and 2 per cent are international.
The proposed expansion is expected to be rolled out in several stages up until 2024.
If executed in its entirety, the redevelopment will deliver an increased economic return of more than $161 million and result in 200 direct and indirect jobs, according to a recent study commissioned by Zoos Victoria.
A spokesperson for Werribee MP Tim Pallas said the local member “receives regular updates and is in close consultation with Zoos Victoria regarding their plans for development of the Werribee Open Range Zoo”.
“Tim and the Andrews Labor government are supportive of the work of Zoos Victoria and their animal conservation initiatives …the proposed expansion promises significant benefits not only in animal welfare, but also to this local community providing more employment opportunities and economic benefit for Werribee.”
The spokesperson would not confirm if the government planned to fund some, or all, of the zoo’s redevelopment.
