Mt Lofty cable car included in new vision for Cleland National Park

A HONG Kong billionaire has proposed building a cable car to Mt Lofty as part of an ambitious vision to redevelop Cleland wildlife park. But big questions remain over the funding.

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A BILLIONAIRE Hong Kong entrepreneur has proposed building a cable car to link Cleland National Park with the Mt Lofty Botanic Garden and summit as part of a new vision for the much-loved wildlife sanctuary.

Allan Zeman, the former chairman of the world-famous Ocean Park tourist attraction in Hong Kong, appeared at a media conference alongside Premier Jay Weatherill and trucking magnate Lindsay Fox on Monday morning to seek private capital for the development.

Mr Fox has vowed to invest in the proposal should Mr Zeman be a key backer, while Mr Weatherill wants the project completed quickly to capitalise on growing international interest in nature tourism, worth $1.2 billion a year for South Australia.

However, key details of the new vision for Cleland — including potential funding arrangements and specifics on where the cable car would be positioned — remain unclear.

An artist’s impression of the Cleland National Park redevelopment proposal, showing the cable car.

Premier Jay Weatherill with Hong Kong businessman Allan Zeman and a Cleland National Park worker at the announcement. Picture: Erin Jones

The broad vision for the project — which has not yet progressed to the stage of design or funding arrangements — proposes new tourist experiences at Cleland including:

A CABLE CAR running from Mt Lofty Botanic Garden to Cleland National Park and the Mt Lofty summit;

A TREETOP walk;

ZIP-LINING through the trees;

A HANG-GLIDING simulator;

YEAR-ROUND mountain biking access.

A NEW HOTEL with an Australiana shopping village and upgraded restaurant and bar options.

Lofty plans for Cleland National Park

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Cleland attracted 125,000 visitors last year.

Mr Weatherill says the next phase of the redevelopment could be worth up to $150 million, but would not be drawn on whether taxpayers would need to contribute to the project.

He estimated about 300 jobs would be created through the expansion phase.

The State Government says it will retain ownership of the site even if the proposal is privately funded.

“This is going to be very sensitively designed to protect natural values,” Mr Weatherill said.

“With China being a top tourism market to SA, Hong Kong-based LKF Group were engaged to develop this vision. They have been instrumental in the success of Hong Kong’s Ocean Park, which has a dedicated South Australian exhibit, home to some of Cleland’s koalas and wallabies.”

Why we’re just wild about Cleland

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Cleland is home to animals including kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, bettongs and emus, and is one of the few places in the world where visitors can hold a koala.

“Adding exciting new offerings — like a cable car, a soaring simulator, world-class dining and nature play spaces in the same vein as the new Morialta playground — will take the park to the next level and make it a magnet for visitors from all over the world,” said Environment Minister Ian Hunter.

Former premier John Bannon famously contemplated a Mount Lofty cable car but the proposal was scrapped in 1989 due to environmental concerns.

Last year the State Government committed $500,000 to a business plan that would investigate ways of turning the park into an international tourist attraction.

The Advertiser front page on August 29, 1989, when former premier John Bannon abandoned his cable car project

WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE: Cleland National Park announcement