Australia Zoo Expansion Plans on Hold

ZYBen

ZYBen

Well-Known Member
Australia Zoo on Queensland's Sunshine Coast has announced it is cutting 20 full-time staff and six casuals at the popular attraction and also putting expansion plans on hold.

The zoo says it is cutting the staff from more than 600 employees due to the economic crisis and gloomy tourism industry forecasts.

A zoo spokeswoman says all entitlements will be met and the workers will be given appropriate help.

Tourism Sunshine Coast chief executive officer Russell Mason says the zoo relies heavily on international visitors.

"Tourism Australia - like a number of organisations - have been looking at what's happening around the world and they've been looking at the visitation arrivals into Australia, particularly from an international perspective," he said.

"Their comment at the moment is that we haven't seen really the hard times yet and we really need to plan for those to happen through the middle of this year.

"It is one of the key international visitation points on the Sunshine Coast, therefore when we do see a bit of a slowdown in the international growth area, organisations that are focused on the international market or have a large proportion of their visitation from the international market are going to see some challenges in the future."
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ABC Sunshine & Cooloola Coasts Qld - Financial crisis hits Australia Zoo

I wonder what will happen of all the half finished projects and animals stuck 'out the back'?
 
I am equally sad to say that the Australia Zoo approach is one wrought in commercialism. Now in essence there may not be that much wrong with commercialism in a zoo environment .... Yet - sorry Mark - but to show dedicated zoo staff the door before any visible or tangible long-term downturn in attendance figures reeks of easy option out ... And what about their job prospects elsewhere and what do they get in compensation - hardly the bonusses awarded to bank- and services-sector managers! It is ... an unfair world and alas ... too wide a margin between the rich and poor for wear! :(
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
I am equally sad to say that the Australia Zoo approach is one wrought in commercialism. Now in essence there may not be that much wrong with commercialism in a zoo environment .... Yet - sorry Mark - but to show dedicated zoo staff the door before any visible or tangible long-term downturn in attendance figures reeks of easy option out ... And what about their job prospects elsewhere and what do they get in compensation - hardly the bonusses awarded to bank- and services-sector managers! It is ... an unfair world and alas ... too wide a margin between the rich and poor for wear! :(
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I agree with you
 
zooman said:
It is all becoming a self fullfilling prophecy the GEC hits Australia!
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Good point Stuart. Where is this "recession" in Australia?

Money can't be tight when Aussies can find $200 million to give to the fire victims and when 2 concerts can raise $5 million in just one day!

Closer to home - DDZ business yesterday [Toowoomba Show holiday] was three times higher than in previous years and, overall, is way up on previous years.

I heard someone say the other day that the "recession" in Australia would be over in a flash if the media could be gagged from talking about it.
 
Steve Robinson said:
I heard someone say the other day that the "recession" in Australia would be over in a flash if the media could be gagged from talking about it.
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Its a shame Terri Erwin cant use some of here media clout for the good of her adopted country. She could really show a great example by changing her mind. Yes l belive it would be that easy. To save these staff members.

Terri has a close relationship wiith the media. Is also media savy enough to not have her controversial boyfriend identified by the media.
Now lets see her use that skill to help Australia go around the Recession.
 
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Zoo downturn

Australia zoo is down approximately 5%. This equates to a relatively large hole in their budget. The idea that Australians stay home and visit local attractions is great, the problem though is that they do not spend as well as their international counterparts. Australia Zoo is heavily marketed overseas and when they stop coming it certainly has an impact.

As terrible as downsizing and redundancies are there are not any companies immune to it.
 
Australia Zoo seems also to have stopped all travel by it's staff. I nkow they were due to look at a group of marmosets this week to take up residence at the zoo at the end of this year. This has been postponed and these marmosets may have to go elsewhere. These 15 common marmosets were around 5 hours drive from the zoo but the "budget" wouldn't allow the travel and the new home for the marmosets may be cancelled.
 
Jarkari said:
Australia Zoo seems also to have stopped all travel by it's staff. I nkow they were due to look at a group of marmosets this week to take up residence at the zoo at the end of this year. This has been postponed and these marmosets may have to go elsewhere. These 15 common marmosets were around 5 hours drive from the zoo but the "budget" wouldn't allow the travel and the new home for the marmosets may be cancelled.
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Are you joking :confused:
 
Yes apparently due to the financial crisis, there has been a stop on all airfares. which I believe is a more appropriate initial step than firing, they would spend quite alot on airfares. maybe they have also grounded the private jet (joke sorry)
 
Jarkari said:
Australia Zoo seems also to have stopped all travel by it's staff. I nkow they were due to look at a group of marmosets this week to take up residence at the zoo at the end of this year. This has been postponed and these marmosets may have to go elsewhere. These 15 common marmosets were around 5 hours drive from the zoo but the "budget" wouldn't allow the travel and the new home for the marmosets may be cancelled.
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So they were only going to look at the marmosets? Not actually bring them to the zoo? Why would they need to look at them?
 
See how they are kept. The marmosets are in a number of groups as some are aggressive. Plus they can't be moved until a later date. Also they may be able to get different marmosets elsewhere. I am yet to see the facilites for these marmosets but I know they would be very different to what Australia Zoo would possibly have in mind. They aren't sure if they want all of them or some. There are alot of variables and it would be easier to discuss them and see how the current facility handles them, feeds them etc in person.
 
Where are these marmosets at present, and what species are they?

:)

Hix
 
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