Werribee Open Range Zoo’s $86m expansion is ‘shovel ready’

Werribee Open Range Zoo’s exciting expansion is “shovel ready”, director Glen Holland says, all that’s needed is a vital funding injection from the State Government. And some of the attractions will have tongues wagging.

Werribee Open Range Zoo’s expansion master plan. Picture: supplied

Werribee Open Range Zoo’s hotly anticipated expansion is “shovel ready” but needs help from the State Government, its director says.

Glen Holland said schematic planning was almost complete and phase one of the $86 million project was ready to go.

The first stage would see a new expanded area built for some of the zoo’s biggest — and heaviest — residents, including bison, Mongolian horses and rhino.

It would also include a spectacular Sky Safari taking in views of the zoo’s expansive grounds.

Mr Holland said he hoped the expansion attracted some extra cash funding when the state’s 2020-21 Budget was announced later this year.

The budget, typically announced in May, was delayed until October as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Government has so far poured $2.6 million into the planning phase of the expansion, and Mr Holland estimates the total project could take about eight years to complete.

Mr Holland couldn’t say how much the zoo would need from the Government to get the entire project done, but he said the zoo’s board would only consider how much of the bill the zoo could foot on its own after it had clarity about the level of government support it would receive.

“We’re hoping for as much as the Government can offer us,” Mr Holland said.

An artist’s impression of the Sky Safari gondola.

“If the support trickles in then the time will stretch out, and there’s no particular rush to do this.

“Of course under covid who knows what they can and can’t help with … we’re still optimistic, it’s a wonderful project.”

The expansion, announced last year, will see a bigger area built for hippos, meerkats and a purpose-built “cheetah lawn” created for concerts and events.

Cheetahs and wild dogs will be able to roam freely at the zoo’s new water hole.

Melbourne Zoo’s Asian elephant herd will also be rehomed at Werribee in a massive new sanctuary that Mr Holland said would be “the best in the world”.

But he said the Sky Safari, a 20-minute gondola trip that gives visitors an aerial view of the zoo and its animals, was the main thing that had tongues wagging.

“I think generally in the community the Sky Safari is very exciting,” Mr Holland said.

“I think that is certainly one everyone I’ve spoken to has said, ‘Wow, that’s going to be amazing’.”

A Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning spokesman said any future funding decisions for the zoo would be subject to Budget deliberations.

The Victorian Government supports our zoos and their work in preserving Australia’s biodiversity,” the spokesman said.

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