Great Western Highway: Blue Mountains wildlife park plans resurface

A controversial wildlife park in the Blue Mountains that’s been trapped in developer limbo has resurfaced again with new additions to the plans.

Plans for the animal locations from 2021. Picture: NSW Government

A controversial proposal to build a wildlife park in the Blue Mountains that’s been delayed has resurfaced.

The proposed wildlife park is on the southern side of the Great Western Highway, situated in between the Wentworth Falls and the Bullaburra train line.

Back in 1989, the site was approved to be turned into a crocodile park but the project was scrapped due to community pressure over the presence of crocodiles.

Since then, the site has been trapped in development limbo with several attempts to get it back off the ground falling flat.

Ownership of the land has also changed hands many times over the last 30 years.

In 2021, plans were lodged to the NSW Government to build a $83.7m wildlife park, along with a 56-room hotel spread across five buildings for an extra $26.6m.

An aerial view of the proposed wildlife park. Picture: NSW Government

In addition to the wildlife park and the hotel, the 2021 plans showed an interest to build a veterinary clinic, a theatrette, and a gallery for Indigenous art on the 10.13ha site.

However, the project was delayed as the developer was not able to submit an environmental impact statement (EIS) report before June 2023.

These delays were cited as fallout effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and additional requirements for the registered environmental assessment practitioner.

Now the project has been lodged again to the state government, with majority of the original plans staying the same.

There are some new additions including a high ropes adventure course, toboggan track, zip-line, chairlift, restaurant and bar.

Plans for the wildlife park include an on-site vet clinic.

The latest scoping report states that the site has been a “key tourist destination for over 100 years”.

“And in recent years, has experienced a significant increase in international tourism as a result of the growth of western Sydney, which is only expected to intensify through the development of the Western Sydney Airport and Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis,” the report states.

The aim is to “establish a unique destination and tourist facility that showcases cultural heritage, flora and fauna, that compliments existing tourist destinations and provides a diversified tourism experience”.

The proposal already faces concerns raised by both the City of Blue Mountains Council and the Rural Fire Service (RFS).

The council pointed out that the scoping report doesn’t “correctly characterise the propose uses”.

The wildlife park is aiming to include a mixture of native animals like kangaroos and emus, with some exotic animals. Picture: Adam Head

“Rather than being a recreation facility (outdoor) or animal boarding or training establishment, it is considered more likely that the dominant use is a ‘zoo’ which is either a recreation facility (major) or an innominate use,” the council document states.

“Further, it appears that all other uses, such as the hotel component, are ancillary to the zoo use, rather than independent uses.

“A zoo is a prohibited use in both the C2 Environmental Conservation and C3 Environmental Management zones. The proposal is therefore likely to be wholly prohibited.”

The RFS warned the developer that the site of the proposed wildlife park is at “high risk of a bush fire attack”.

“The proposed development is surrounded by extensive areas of Dry Sclerophyll Forest. During dangerous fire weather, this vegetation can facilitate large-scale fires that burn at high intensity and are fast moving,” the response said.

“This situation presents a notable risk to staff and tourists.”