Currumbin Sanctuary boss Jonathan Fisher says Fleay's revamp plan is "doomed"

PLANS to revamp the David Fleay Wildlife park are "doomed" according to a rival park operator.

PLANS to revamp the David Fleay Wildlife park are "doomed" according to a rival park operator.

The Bulletin has obtained a letter from tourism heavyweight and Currumbin Sanctuary boss Jonathan Fisher to MPs, city powerbrokers and tourism leaders criticising the State Government's masterplan for the historic tourist attraction as a misguided attempt to compete with the Currumbin park.

He said the plans, now open to community consultation, could have a "detrimental impact" on the National Trust-owned sanctuary.

"I am sorry to suggest, it is doomed again to failure at great expense not only to the State Government but significant opportunity cost to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation," he said.

"This plan appears to be a somewhat feeble attempt to compete with, rather than complement, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

"We need this plan debated and we need the concept of a partnership taken seriously, to stop more public money being wasted on Fleays at the cost of the Government not supporting the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital."

Mr Fisher, who sits on the board of Gold Coast Tourism, instead proposed a business partnership between Currumbin Sanctuary and Fleay's including shared management, marketing and the removal of duplicate animals.

He will present his plan to Department of Parks and Wildlife officers today.

The Fleay's masterplan proposes includes plans for new enclosures, an expanded native animal collection, an amphitheatre and a pontoon linking the park to Tallebudgera Creek.

The upgrade is expected to cost several million dollars.

Burleigh MP Michael Hart hit back at Mr Fisher's criticisms and denied the Newman Government was attempting to damage Currumbin Sanctuary's commercial viability.

"Jonathan has his views on this and while I agree with some ... we are not in the business of competing with commercial interests," he said.

"The Government has invested too much time and money on this park to let it sit there and we will have to make it work while focusing on tourism, education and research."

Mr Fisher also slammed Currumbin MP and Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey and said she had not followed through on her lobbying for greater funding for the park's wildlife hospital since being elected to government.

Public consultation on the David Fleay Wildlife Park masterplan closes February 28.