Blue Mountains zoo plans move ahead despite community backlash

A new tourist attraction for the Blue Mountains with a native wildlife park and $26.6 million hotel in the works after more than 30 years of planning.

A controversial proposal to build a wildlife park in the Blue Mountains has taken a major step towards approval after being lodged on the NSW Government’s State Significant Development Planning Portal.

The site on the southern side of the Great Western Highway, situated close to the Bodington Nursing Home and Dillinger’s Nursery in Wentworth Falls, has been approved for a crocodile park since 1989, however the project was scrapped after community pressure over the use of crocodiles.

A map with the proposed layout of a zoo that could be built in Wentworth Falls.

It’s been stuck in development limbo ever since, with several attempts to get it back off the ground falling flat, and the lands has changed hands many times over the past 30 years.

The newest plans would see an $83.7 million wildlife park built on the site as well as a 56-room hotel spread across five buildings at an extra cost of $26.6 million.

Developers also plan to have a veterinary clinic, a theatrette, and a gallery for Indigenous art on the 10.13ha site.

If approved, the zoo will house mainly local wildlife, including kangaroos, wombats, koalas, emus, and echidnas.

A planner from Cityscape Planning and Projects, on behalf of the Trustee of the Blue Mountains Wildlife Trust, described the project as “significant”.

“The project represents a significant economic investment into the Blue Mountains and presents a unique opportunity to complement and grow that tourism sector as well as create significant local employment growth and cultural awareness both on site and within the local community and district,” they said.

The location of the site between the townships of Bullaburra and Wentworth Falls.

“The proposal is one of not only state significance, but from a tourism and cultural perspective of national, and international significance.”

However, the Blue Mountains Conservation Society has raised concerns about the project, particularly environmental and biodiversity issues.

A spokesperson said much of the development rests in E2 Environmental Conservation zone, which they say should prohibit the project.

“Half of the hotel buildings, all the carparks and most of the internal roads, the restaurant/bar, some exhibition buildings, and the free-range animal exhibits confined by perimeter fencing are sited in the E2 zone,” they said.

The group also raised concerns about the visual impact of the project, and the impact it will have on traffic on the Great Western Highway.

Echidnas will be one of the main attractions at a proposed Wentworth Falls zoo and hotel precinct. Picture: Richard Dobson

The zoo will focus on native wildlife, including the ever-popular kangaroos and wallabies.

Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said he was concerned the proposal’s path through the State Significant Development process would reduce the council’s role to one of a spectator.

“The State Significant Development process allows inappropriate proposals to bypass our carefully calibrated local planning frameworks,” he said.

“It jeopardises our World Heritage Area and our unique way of life.

“The Blue Mountains LEP limits development on the land between our towns and villages – in order to protect our unique City.

“Developments such as these set a precedent that could change the Blue Mountains forever.”

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