Wasnt entirely sure which Perth Zoo thread was best to post this.
Very similar to the open range zoo for Perth concept in the metropolitan hinterland long discussed.
So it seems that in late 1999 an idea was floated by Cockburn Council in southern Perth that if an 82 hectare site (possibly bigger over 90 hectares) at suburb Bibra Lake, the site adjacent to Perth's biggest amusement park Adventure World and also adjacent to a large nature preserve/reserve and lake South Lake which also had significant Aboriginal cultural sites such as scarred (marked) trees.
Personally dont like the idea of a zoo so close to the noises of an amusement park but it was an interesting concept proposal to come across (if Perth Zoo had ever agreed to it, it would of meant an increase of more than 4 times the space as their South Perth site).
Believe there has been some desire by some about the land value of the zoo's actual site in South Perth for other developments; its a historically significant site however deep in history with the zoo and while on the smaller side (still twice as big as Adelaide Zoo's site) the zoo has done wonders with its site management and species over the decades and its current
masterplan works excellently with the spatial limitations (e.g - Permai & Putra Mas the Elephants departing for Monarto very soon, a reduction in species over the decades to enlarge habitats for species chosen to keep holding).
The zoo had already been open at its South Perth site for 101 years when this idea was floated.
Thought would share what found and a google map outline of the site.
The location at Bibra Lake is about 22 minutes (20km) drive south from the actual zoo:
sources: City of Cockburn Ordinary Council agenda paper 21 December 1999 and
Google Earth:
Google Maps
The council report pages about:
ECM_4193678_v1_Agenda-Ordinary-Council-Meeting-21-December-1999-pages.pdf