Taronga Zoo Sydney’s bold $16m redevelopment plans
Taronga Zoo has released major redevelopment plans to bulldoze a list of exhibits to make way for a range of new, exciting attractions. It comes as the zoo reveals how it has been impacted by COVID-19 and summer’s bushfire season. SEE THE PLANS.
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Bulldozers and construction workers are set to become the newest occupants of Sydney’s Taronga Zoo under major redevelopment plans to expand the iconic tourist hub.
Platypus House is among the exhibits set to be demolished to make way for the creation of a new “habitat precinct” featuring animals from Australia’s outback at the wetlands of the top end.
Taronga Zoo said coronavirus restrictions coupled with the summer’s bushfire season had prompted the $16 million redevelopment to be fast-tracked due to a “drastic decline” in visitor numbers and revenue.
The new habitat precinct would be built near the northern zoo entrance on Bradleys Head Rd with three exhibits featuring “star” attractions including kangaroos, koalas, wombats, emus and a new home for the illusive platypus.
Nocturnal House would also be refurbished to create an “immersive experience for guests” including a new exhibit design and layout.
A new koala encounter and “koala canopy walk” meandering through a forest of gumtrees four metres above ground would meanwhile provide guests with a more “naturalistic experience” with the native species.
There would also be an extension to the macropod walkthrough to “enhance the presentation and welfare” of kangaroos in the open range exhibit, along with a new kid’s adventure area, treehouse, plaza, pavilion, and back of house facilities for the care and treatment of animals.
Current sites set to be demolished as part of the first stage of works include the 52-year-old Platypus House building along with the wetlands bridge, pathways and sections of the popular wild ropes course.
Plans show the expedited demolition works would allow for the most disruptive construction to start on site sooner due to coincide with dwindling visitor numbers.
“This project is fully funded and ‘shovel ready’ to begin as soon as possible to take the opportunity for construction while visitor numbers to the zoo are restricted in these challenging times,” the zoo said.
“Now more than ever, it is critical that the project is delivered in time for when the economy does bounce back, and international tourists start returning to Taronga, Sydney and Australia.”
Development plans show neighbouring homeowners, located up to 200m from the site, could be in for early starts with construction activity set to begin at 7am on weekdays and 8am on Saturdays.
The zoo said demolition of heritage structures and Platypus House was warranted as the attraction – which has previously been plagued with termites – no longer “meets the needs of the animals” nor safety requirements for zookeepers.
The zoo is aiming for the first stage of demolition works to be approved by August with the remaining project set to begin construction in 2021 and completed within 18 months.
Plans stated the project would “deliver genuine economic benefits in these challenging times” by creating 800 full-time planning and construction jobs along with ongoing employment opportunities once up-and-running.
“The precinct will display critically endangered (species) and provide an innovative space to display nocturnal Australian animals, providing significantly improved animal welfare outcomes,” the plans stated.
“The completion of the project will position Taronga Zoo as a continued global leader in the presentation and welfare of Australian animals.”
Established in 1916, the 28ha zoo exhibits more than 320 animal species and attracts 1.5 million visitors each year, making the site one of Sydney’s leading tourist destinations.