National Zoo and Aquarium Safari Hotel Plans Lodged

J

Jet

Well-Known Member
After several years of being talked about, these National Zoo & Aquarium expansion plans seem to be moving towards the final hurdles. It probably wouldn't be happening at all if it were not for the Canberra fires in 2003 that exploded through nearby pine plantations and destroyed several suburbs not far from the zoo. Although the pine plantation immediately next to the zoo was extremely lucky not to burn (and the zoo with it) the ACT Government cut down all the trees on this site. This opened the door for the zoo to make an approach to the ACT Government for that land. Although there are medium sized pines that have grown back on the site now, the ACT Government is keen to not let them get to full size again and remove the future fire risk so close to suburbia. Hence, the zoo expansion and tourism potential has been well supported by the ACT Government and the land will cost the zoo nothing. Now for National Capital Authority approval (because it an important central site near the Lake, Scrivener Dam, Government House and parks controlled by the NCA).

The site itself is not that big compared to say Dubbo or Werribee so it won't really be a big free range zoo, but I suppose it will be competition for the sleepover safari experience offered by other zoos and certainly will be a really novel place to stay in Canberra. I am certainly looking forward to it. Unfortunately the graphics aren't that good in this article:

A Canberra safari - Local News - News - General - The Canberra Times

Zoo expansion to bring animals closer - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

I note the zoo has also recently renovated their Little Penguin exhibit, which offers very good viewing.
 
Seems like a very interesting project is there anything like this in australia already? (as regards to overnight accomodation).

(also that statistic stated by the U.N is completely flawed and wrong)
 
Between taronga and taronga western plains zoo there are 5 different accommodation options currently available with the most notable being zoofari lodge at TWPZ. It is run by the zoo but has it's own website. Then there is roar and snore at both zoos for families and zoosnooze for school groups.
I also believe zoosvic run roar and snores seasonally.
 
Seems like the Canberra experience will be a bit different though. More like an upmarket safari-style hotel like you find at some authentic African lodges compared to a good quality tent experience at Taronga (...but also without the sensational views over the harbour like Taronga Sydney).
 
Jet said:
It probably wouldn't be happening at all if it were not for the Canberra fires in 2003 that exploded through nearby pine plantations and destroyed several suburbs not far from the zoo. Although the pine plantation immediately next to the zoo was extremely lucky not to burn (and the zoo with it) the ACT Government cut down all the trees on this site.
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Just to correct you on the minute details: the December 2001 fires did indeed come right up to the perimeter fences and caused a few spot fires within the zoo grounds. However due to the relative lack of flammable vegetation within the grounds, the zoo got away pretty much undamaged.
 
I think you are saying that it was the smaller fire in 2001 fire that caused spotfires in the zoo itself and perhaps even took out some of the site next to the zoo where they are expanding onto? Ok, I have only a feint recollection of the 2001 fire, but I was purposely referring to the January 2003 bushfire that was the worst in Canberra's history and destroyed many houses in the suburbs of Duffy and Holder right near the zoo, as well as the nearby Mt Stromlo Observatory and pine plantation etc etc, so I stand by my point that the zoo was in danger from the big fire in 2003. It was the 2003 bushfire that was completely out of control and ripped through most of the pine plantations etc just west of the zoo. The pine plantations "exploded" when the bush/grass fires reached them quickly fanned by a strong westerly wind and sent embers that burnt down many houses quite deep within the suburbs of Duffy and Holder etc. Therefore, my point was it was the big 2003 fire that really prompted the ACT Government to avoid having pine plantations too near to the suburbs and major infrastructure....and that's one of the main reasons why they are happy for the zoo to take over that adjacent site, which is currently covered with medium-sized pine trees......
 
Jet said:
I think you are saying that it was the smaller fire in 2001 fire that caused spotfires in the zoo itself and perhaps even took out some of the site next to the zoo where they are expanding onto? Ok, I have only a feint recollection of the 2001 fire, but I was purposely referring to the January 2003 bushfire that was the worst in Canberra's history and destroyed many houses in the suburbs of Duffy and Holder right near the zoo, as well as the nearby Mt Stromlo Observatory and pine plantation etc etc, so I stand by my point that the zoo was in danger from the big fire in 2003. It was the 2003 bushfire that was completely out of control and ripped through most of the pine plantations etc just west of the zoo. The pine plantations "exploded" when the bush/grass fires reached them quickly fanned by a strong westerly wind and sent embers that burnt down many houses quite deep within the suburbs of Duffy and Holder etc. Therefore, my point was it was the big 2003 fire that really prompted the ACT Government to avoid having pine plantations too near to the suburbs and major infrastructure....and that's one of the main reasons why they are happy for the zoo to take over that adjacent site, which is currently covered with medium-sized pine trees......
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Sorry to bang on about this but it was the 2001 bushfire that burnt right up to the fences of the zoo. You are probably correct that the 2003 fires were worse and that the ACT Government changed their tune on pine plantations, but the plantations surrounding the zoo were all burnt out in the 2001 fire. First hand experience.
 
Sure. I lived in the area during the time of both fires but it's the devastating 2003 fire that is burned in my memory (...apologies..). My last reply was because you had said I needed correcting and therefore, I wanted to reiterate that I think my points were fine as I had first written them. Rather than correcting me, you had added extra details about the 2001 fire that was closer and had a more direct impact on the zoo, and as per your last post, this further supported the points I was making about the ACT Government's desire to remove pine plantations near the city. However, I note you say "plantations surrounding the zoo were all burnt out in the 2001 fire". However, my point was that large areas of pine forest "nearby" to the zoo also burnt in 2003 together with several suburbs "not far" away. From what you say about 2001, it sounds like the previous close burning would have helped avoid 2003 impacts on the zoo. However, the 2003 fire was so bad that burning embers that were destroying pine plantations just west of the zoo (such as the Mt Stromlo pine forest where the Observatory burnt down) were landing many more miles away to the east (including my roof). Therefore, I standby suggesting the zoo was in danger but ultimately not affected in 2003, yet concede saying "extremely lucky" was an overstatement. In fact, it was animals at the nearby veterinary hospital and further south at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve that sadly perished, including rock wallabies that were part of a succesful threatened species breeding program. The nearby RSPCA also burnt down in 2003 but I believe all the animals were rescued.

Rather than my ramblings, people may be interested to learn more about the overall fire impact at: [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Canberra_bushfires]2003 Canberra bushfires - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame].
 
I have to agree more with tetrapod's comments. As you can see by my username, I live in Duffy and have been here when both fires occurred. Had the 2001 fire not burned out the areas on either side of the parkway, most definitely the much bigger and more devastating fire of 2003 may well have taken out the zoo during it's rampage that day. Embers from this latter fire no doubt spread far and wide due to what felt like cyclonic winds at the time, but I do not recall reports of any actual tangible threats to the zoo. I can check all the newspapers that my friends and family (far and wide) and I collected during this time to confirm (they're in storage here).

Enough about these fires though. The fact that both occurred did certainly pave the way for the zoo to expand, so something good will eventually come out of such terrible events in our history.

Personally, even though we live only five minutes away from the zoo (by car), once this development is open for business we will be checking it out. Can't wait! :D
 
DuffyMum said:
Had the 2001 fire not burned out the areas on either side of the parkway, most definitely the much bigger and more devastating fire of 2003 may well have taken out the zoo during it's rampage that day.
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Sheesh. I agreed with this!...and still don't think anything I said in my original post was wrong...I just didn't mention the earlier fire. I'm not sure if you will find any reference to the zoo being in direct danger in papers but I certainly heard it on ABC local radio on the day (then again that could have been just journalistic license given everything else in the region was also being mentioned). But yes, enough about the fires. The only concern I now have is I have heard that the hotel will be very expensive. Canberra Times online article said "Staying in the zoo will cost visitors between $900 to $1200 a room for one night." That's out of my reach. I only spent about 8 times that amount for a 10 day trip to Africa itself. I assume though that visitors will be able to see the new larger enclosure(s) without having to stay at the lodge (surely).
 
Jet said:
The only concern I now have is I have heard that the hotel will be very expensive. Canberra Times online article said "Staying in the zoo will cost visitors between $900 to $1200 a room for one night." That's out of my reach. I only spent about 8 times that amount for a 10 day trip to Africa itself. I assume though that visitors will be able to see the new larger enclosure(s) without having to stay at the lodge (surely).
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I heard that the cost of staying in the Hotel will include meals and lots of hands on animal interactions. The cost of staying in the accomodation at Dubbo or Werribee is around $950-$1000 for a family of 4....
The plans show paths extending from the existing Zoo and an extra entrance and carpark near the new enclosures, so its obvious that regular zoo visitors will have access to see the new areas and animals.

It certainly has taken along time to get the plans approved, and I agree with Jet - I cant wait to see it develop
 
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