Five years after this zoo closed to make way for housing, a new location is now tipped to become the home of Alma Park

This zoo has faced stalled negotiations and a Supreme Court battle with one local southeast Queensland council, but its neighbours have put out the welcome mat – embracing plans for a proposed new $12 million tourism attraction.

Maly the Sunbear made the move from Alma Park Zoo to the Big Pineapple. Photo: Megan Slade.

A new $12 million Alma Park Zoo could be setting up on the Redlands Coast after the M1 duplication complicated plans to move to Logan.

The company behind the zoo has now entered discussions on a possible Redlands site for the new tourist attraction.

LAPZ was locked in stalled negotiations with neighbouring Logan City Council, which resulted in a Supreme Court battle, when news the M1 duplication project would cut through the proposed new zoo site.

Since then, Redland City Council and Federal MP Andrew Laming have courted the company, keen to secure the attraction and help boost the local tourism industry.

FOLLOW REDLANDS COMMUNITY NEWS

FACEBOOK

COMMUNITY CHAT GROUP

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

Alma Park Zoo could become the latest tourism attraction on the Redlands Coast, if negotiations are successful.

LAPZ family spokesman John Quinn said ease of access and projected visitor numbers would determine the final location of the zoo.

“LAPZ has been approached by Redlands and has entered discussions, however these are very preliminary at this stage,” he said.

“Our dealings with Redland City Council have been excellent. Redlands appears to be enthusiastic towards the prospect.”

Mr Quinn said the zoo would require about 50ha and the terrain could be undulating, or even flood affected, but must be well connected to public transport.

While open to buying land, or leasing a government-owned property, “security of tenure” was paramount to any deal.

The company had not set any deadline, or currently had any expectations on construction timelines.

Scooby the Baboon found a new home at Wildlife HQ when Alma Park Zoo closed. Photo: Megan Slade

“We are keen to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure the end result is a facility of national significance,” he said.

“I emphasise that it is very early days in the process of re-establishing Alma Park Zoo.

“To ensure the success of the project it will take hundreds of hours and months of work prior to even making the final decision on what will be included, and where the project should be located.

“Of course a lot of the hard work has already been done. We have been working at re-creating the new zoo since 2010.”

LAPZ representatives have visited the “engine rooms” of some of the world’s best zoos with the intention of bringing the latest technology to a re-envisaged Alma Park.

“The new zoo will focus on the sustainability of the environment, the protection of endangered species, renewable energy, the recognition of our cultural heritage, research and education,” Mr Quinn said.

“We are looking to collaborate with tertiary education facilities. We see education as being a significant and dominant theme in all aspects of the new facility.”

The original Alma Park Zoo closed to make way for housing.

Despite it’s hi-tech future, Alma Park will retain both its name and the family focus that was developed from the zoo’s beginnings at Dakabin, north of Brisbane, in 1969.

The original site was closed five years ago, making way for a housing estate, and the animals were relocated on a loan arrangement to Wildlife HQ at the Big Pineapple.

“Alma Park Zoo has always been, and will remain, family focused,” Mr Quinn said.

“Visitors to the new facility will be invited to bring their own picnic basket, food and drink, and to spend time being immersed in nature.”

The koala population increased not long after the animals were moved from Dakabin – with six joeys born at Wildlife HQ. Photos: Megan Slade.

LAPZ’s animal collection remains on loan to Wildlife HQ, but Mr Quinn expected that zoo to also remain and prosper once the new Alma Park opened.

He said that since the animals were relocated to the Big Pineapple there had been “numerous progeny from the LAPZ collection, as well as some of the animals passing”.

“There will be a number of additional exhibits in the new zoo, details of which will be released over the course of development,” he said.

A peacock puts on a display of colour at the former Alma Park Zoo, when it was located north of Brisbane.

Mr Laming said Alma Park Zoo would be a great tourism attraction for the Redlands Coast.

“Such a facility could serve as an educational and tourism experience for not only the communities of Brisbane City, Redlands Coast, Logan and Ipswich, but for hundreds of thousands of interstate and international visitors each year,” he said.

“This can be a game-changer for Redlands, with jobs, skills, tourism and animal husbandry.

“Having explored possible sites with Redland City Council and seen the opportunities first hand, I am delighted that discussions so far have been positive.

“We are exploring multiple options for the zoo’s location and look forward to securing this incredible opportunity for the Redlands Coast.”