This follows a recommendation, with conditions, by the Department of Planning and Environment on its favourable assessment to the commission of the privately-funded $28 million Sydney Zoo in the Blacktown local government area – and its boost to the tourism economy of the region.
The three-member panel heard the last of the public submissions on the proposal at a meeting in December at the Rooty Hill RSL
The proposal is for a zoo on a 16.5-hectare site located within the Western Sydney Parklands’ 216-hectare Bungarribee Precinct, which has the capacity to become a recreational and tourist hub for Western Sydney.
A concern of the department of planning was the potential impact of the proposal on the long-established Featherdale Wildlife Park, with both venues within several kilometres of each other in the Blacktown local government area.
The 3.1-hectare wildlife park, which opened in 1972 on a former poultry farm at Doonside, has evolved into the largest exhibitor of Australian wildlife in the world, with 1700 creatures of the bird, mammal and reptilian variety, and is an industry leader in the medical care of koalas.
To draw a distinction between the venues and to alleviate a negative effect on trading at Featherdale, Australian native animals at the zoo would comprise less than 1.6 hectares of the overall exhibited animal collection and be displayed as part of the Aboriginal Heritage Experience.
The remainder of the zoo would include a wide range of international species in a safari-like setting thus with a lesser focus on Australian native animals.
The department’s assessment said an economic review indicated a sufficient market existed within greater Sydney to sustain both Sydney Zoo and Featherdale Wildlife Park
Given discernible differentiation from that of Featherdale opportunities might exist for the facilities to co-exist – collaborate rather than compete – thus creating a tourist destination within Western Sydney.
Should approval be granted, Sydney Zoo Pty Ltd – John Burgess, founder of Sydney Aquarium, at Darling Harbour, is managing director of the privately-funded company – expects construction to commence this year providing 160 jobs, with 59 positions when operational in 2018.
The partnership between Sydney Zoo, Western Sydney Parklands Trust and Blacktown Council is expected to bring 745,000 people per year out to Blacktown, as well as a $45 million boost to the NSW economy.
The Planning Assessment Commission is yet to hand down its determination.
