Well this is one I'm hoping to get your thoughts on. Orange City Council has built a sanctuary rather than a wildlife park or zoo on some property owned by Cabonne Council. The sanctuary features feral proof fences and the Council obtained animals from many zoos including platypus to be housed on the forty acre site. Council is considering opening the sanctuary for public tours and although it is not a zoo I am curious as to how many of our forum members would be interested in visiting the earth sanctuary or similar properties if they were open to the public (under guided tours only) Below is an extract from councils page.
Home » Environment & Development » Sustainable Environment » Earth Sanctuary
Earth Sanctuary
The Sanctuary occupies an area of approximately 40 hectares and is located opposite Lake Canobolas Reserve just a few kilometres from the centre of Orange.
Many species of birds, ranging from scrub wrens, Tawny Frog Mouths, fantails and Black Shouldered Kites inhabit the bushland and revegetation areas. There have also been sightings of the Common Brushtail Possum, Swamp Wallaby and Sugar Glider.
Boardwalks, nesting boxes and water features have been constructed to enhance the variety of ecosystems and visitor facilities and more than 15,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted to provide natural habitat for existing and native fauna species to be release on the site.
The Proposal to Further Develop the Earth Sanctuary
Primary Aims
The development of the site as an active conservation precinct will be of direct benefit to the Orange region and the wider community. The Sanctuary will be an outstanding model of active conservation management displaying fauna species that have become locally rare or extinct in a natural environment - an outdoor facility, free from the pressures of feral animal predation and competition.
As the Sanctuary develops it will fulfil a niche within the expanding tourism industry promoted by the Central West NSW tourism brand. The Sanctuary will be run with experienced staff undertaking informative and educational nocturnal and daylight guided walks for tourists and residents of the region.
The Sanctuary will fulfil components within the education sector of the community; catering for school and university environmental curricula activities and covering topics such as endangered species, tourism and conservation, habitat studies, ecosystems and food webs.
Works To Date
1999 Logging of pine plantation
1999 - 2000 Clearing fence line and construction of boundary and feral animal proof fence
2000 - 2001 Revegetation work - canopy species from five different vegetation communities planted. Approximately 17,600 trees were planted throughout the pine plantation areas.
2000 -2002 On ground works:
- Maintenance of planted trees
- Noxious and environmental weed control
- Construction of service access trails - future walking trails
Survey work:
- Feral animal control
- Small mammal trapping program implemented and spotlighting exercises
- Monitoring of fence
2002 - 2002 Habitat features constructed:
- Rocky knolls
- Water features
- Placement of old growth habitat trees
- Nesting boxes - bat, bird and mammal
2003 - On ground works:
- Noxious and Environmental Weed Control including pine regrowth, hawthorns, blackberry
- Mechanical clearing of woody weeds
- Construction of large water features (ponds)
- Construction of walking trail, clearing scrub and grading
- Construction of boardwalk across creek areas
Survey work:
- Feral animal control
- Small mammal trapping program implemented and spotlighting exercises
- Monitoring of fence
Current & Future
Legislative and Licensing
There are two Acts covering fauna establishments:
- The Exhibited Animals Protection Act for the holding and display of protected fauna in intensively managed animal holding facilities, for example Zoos.
- National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act) provides the legislative protection against the harm for all protected fauna. For example a licence is required to display, hold, harm (which includes capture, or pursue) or liberate protected fauna. The release of wild animals into self-sustaining populations, in large natural areas and independent of significant human management falls under this Act.
The above mentioned Acts are administered by:
- NSW Department of Agriculture
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
In August 2003 the two licensing authorities, as a result of an increase in both commercial and private 'Sanctuary' style establishments, developed a document titled Guidelines for Managing Free Range Fauna in Enclosed Areas as there were no standards for the management of free range fauna, only intensively managed animal holding facilities.
The Lake Canobolas Wildlife Sanctuary falls into the 'free range fauna' category and therefore compliance with the Guidelines for Managing Free Range Fauna in Enclosed Areas is required.
Landscape / Fauna Component
The Project Plan in the original proposal, developed by Earth Sanctuaries, estimated a period of 12 to 18 months from the commencement of logging (1999) for the completion of logging, boundary and electric fence construction, and preliminary walking trails to the point of undertaking revegetation works. These works have all been accomplished, with major revegetation works occurring in 2000. Further plantings will occur throughout the next five to ten years as canopy species dominate and understorey plants are established.
Establishing a range of vegetation communities, ie different species of eucalypts planted at different spacings with different understorey, eg native grasses/forbs, sparse shrubbery, dense shrubbery, or midstorey species are essential components required prior to gaining approval from the NSW NPWS to translocate species to the Lake Canobolas Sanctuary.
Whilst in some areas of the site natural revegetation is occurring due to the influx of seed carried by wind, water or birds, other areas will require planting out to provide the ground cover essential for habitat and shelter from natural predators, eg larger birds of prey.
The Project Plan estimates a further four to five years following on from the revegetation period before any releases are undertaken (2004-2005). Throughout the period between initial revegetation to release, works including habitat construction, maintenance of regrowth, environmental and noxious weed control, earthworks and trail enhancements will be undertaken.
Further work to be Done
- Completion of application for NSW NPWS Licence complying with 'Guidelines for Managing Free Range Fauna in Enclosed Areas'
- Preparation of brief for Lake Canobolas Reserve/Sanctuary/Scout Camp Landscape Master Plan
- Granting of Licence from NSW NPWS Director-General
- Release enclosure constructed (approximate size 1-1.5 ha)
- First release - Bettongs from Warrawong
- Promotion of Sanctuary opening Spring 2004
- Commence Nocturnal Guided walksGuidelines for Managing Free Range Fauna in Enclosed Areas
Home » Environment & Development » Sustainable Environment » Earth Sanctuary
Earth Sanctuary
The Sanctuary occupies an area of approximately 40 hectares and is located opposite Lake Canobolas Reserve just a few kilometres from the centre of Orange.
Many species of birds, ranging from scrub wrens, Tawny Frog Mouths, fantails and Black Shouldered Kites inhabit the bushland and revegetation areas. There have also been sightings of the Common Brushtail Possum, Swamp Wallaby and Sugar Glider.
Boardwalks, nesting boxes and water features have been constructed to enhance the variety of ecosystems and visitor facilities and more than 15,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted to provide natural habitat for existing and native fauna species to be release on the site.
The Proposal to Further Develop the Earth Sanctuary
Primary Aims
The development of the site as an active conservation precinct will be of direct benefit to the Orange region and the wider community. The Sanctuary will be an outstanding model of active conservation management displaying fauna species that have become locally rare or extinct in a natural environment - an outdoor facility, free from the pressures of feral animal predation and competition.
As the Sanctuary develops it will fulfil a niche within the expanding tourism industry promoted by the Central West NSW tourism brand. The Sanctuary will be run with experienced staff undertaking informative and educational nocturnal and daylight guided walks for tourists and residents of the region.
The Sanctuary will fulfil components within the education sector of the community; catering for school and university environmental curricula activities and covering topics such as endangered species, tourism and conservation, habitat studies, ecosystems and food webs.
Works To Date
1999 Logging of pine plantation
1999 - 2000 Clearing fence line and construction of boundary and feral animal proof fence
2000 - 2001 Revegetation work - canopy species from five different vegetation communities planted. Approximately 17,600 trees were planted throughout the pine plantation areas.
2000 -2002 On ground works:
- Maintenance of planted trees
- Noxious and environmental weed control
- Construction of service access trails - future walking trails
Survey work:
- Feral animal control
- Small mammal trapping program implemented and spotlighting exercises
- Monitoring of fence
2002 - 2002 Habitat features constructed:
- Rocky knolls
- Water features
- Placement of old growth habitat trees
- Nesting boxes - bat, bird and mammal
2003 - On ground works:
- Noxious and Environmental Weed Control including pine regrowth, hawthorns, blackberry
- Mechanical clearing of woody weeds
- Construction of large water features (ponds)
- Construction of walking trail, clearing scrub and grading
- Construction of boardwalk across creek areas
Survey work:
- Feral animal control
- Small mammal trapping program implemented and spotlighting exercises
- Monitoring of fence
Current & Future
Legislative and Licensing
There are two Acts covering fauna establishments:
- The Exhibited Animals Protection Act for the holding and display of protected fauna in intensively managed animal holding facilities, for example Zoos.
- National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NPW Act) provides the legislative protection against the harm for all protected fauna. For example a licence is required to display, hold, harm (which includes capture, or pursue) or liberate protected fauna. The release of wild animals into self-sustaining populations, in large natural areas and independent of significant human management falls under this Act.
The above mentioned Acts are administered by:
- NSW Department of Agriculture
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
In August 2003 the two licensing authorities, as a result of an increase in both commercial and private 'Sanctuary' style establishments, developed a document titled Guidelines for Managing Free Range Fauna in Enclosed Areas as there were no standards for the management of free range fauna, only intensively managed animal holding facilities.
The Lake Canobolas Wildlife Sanctuary falls into the 'free range fauna' category and therefore compliance with the Guidelines for Managing Free Range Fauna in Enclosed Areas is required.
Landscape / Fauna Component
The Project Plan in the original proposal, developed by Earth Sanctuaries, estimated a period of 12 to 18 months from the commencement of logging (1999) for the completion of logging, boundary and electric fence construction, and preliminary walking trails to the point of undertaking revegetation works. These works have all been accomplished, with major revegetation works occurring in 2000. Further plantings will occur throughout the next five to ten years as canopy species dominate and understorey plants are established.
Establishing a range of vegetation communities, ie different species of eucalypts planted at different spacings with different understorey, eg native grasses/forbs, sparse shrubbery, dense shrubbery, or midstorey species are essential components required prior to gaining approval from the NSW NPWS to translocate species to the Lake Canobolas Sanctuary.
Whilst in some areas of the site natural revegetation is occurring due to the influx of seed carried by wind, water or birds, other areas will require planting out to provide the ground cover essential for habitat and shelter from natural predators, eg larger birds of prey.
The Project Plan estimates a further four to five years following on from the revegetation period before any releases are undertaken (2004-2005). Throughout the period between initial revegetation to release, works including habitat construction, maintenance of regrowth, environmental and noxious weed control, earthworks and trail enhancements will be undertaken.
Further work to be Done
- Completion of application for NSW NPWS Licence complying with 'Guidelines for Managing Free Range Fauna in Enclosed Areas'
- Preparation of brief for Lake Canobolas Reserve/Sanctuary/Scout Camp Landscape Master Plan
- Granting of Licence from NSW NPWS Director-General
- Release enclosure constructed (approximate size 1-1.5 ha)
- First release - Bettongs from Warrawong
- Promotion of Sanctuary opening Spring 2004
- Commence Nocturnal Guided walksGuidelines for Managing Free Range Fauna in Enclosed Areas
