Mosman Council says Taronga Zoo’s plan for a 62-room eco lodge is an ‘inappropriate use of public land’

MOSMAN Council will object to the Department of Planning and Environment over Taronga Zoo’s planned 62-room eco-lodge development, the centrepiece of a 10-year masterplan.

An artist’s impression of Taronga Zoo's planned Taronga Wildlife Retreat.

• Animal rescue service needs help
• Pay-for-view NYE fireworks
• Councillor says zoo turning into Disneyland
• Zoo reveals eco lodge plans

MOSMAN Council remains strongly opposed to Taronga Zoo’s wildlife retreat proposal, questioning whether the 62-room hotel is an appropriate use of public land, among other concerns.

The project is part of a $114.8 million 10-year masterplan to revitalise the zoo.

Councillors voted 6-1 last week for the council to provide final feedback on the proposal to the Department of Planning and Environment.

The department is the consent authority for the Australia Habitat and Taronga Wildlife Retreat development proposal, which was publicly exhibited earlier this year.

The Mosman Daily first reported in May that the council had problems with parking, traffic, tree loss and the relevance of the plans to the zoo’s aims.

The Wildlife Retreat will let guests get up close and personal with native fauna.

Cr Simon Menzies even went so far as to claim that Taronga was “turning into a Disney zoo”.

Last week only Deputy Mayor Roy Bendall, who represents council on the Taronga board, spoke against the council’s negative report on the zoo’s plans.

“It seems we have learnt nothing from what the good people of Taronga said when they came to speak to us,” he said.

Cr Bendall said the project aimed to create an immersive experience to inspire visitors to support wildlife conservation.

But Cr Menzies said planning rules applied to all.

“There should be no exceptions just because you’re a big employer in the area and you do great conservation work, which no one is trying to take away from,” he said.

The Wildlife Retreat is the centrepiece of the zoo’s 10-year masterplan.

ZOO HOTEL PLANS

● 62 rooms across five two to four-storey accommodation “pods”

● Four-storey addition to existing Taronga Centre

● One-storey guest lodge

● Native wildlife exhibition and landscaping works