❓ Question regarding the closure and demolition of the Penguin Island Discovery Centre, including feasibility studies, consultation, funding reallocation, commercial impact, and penguin population estimates. The answer provides dates, details of studies, consultation, funding reallocation, and population estimates, deflecting one question to Perth Wildlife Encounters.
AnsweredQoN 1791Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the closure and demolition of the Penguin Island Discovery Centre, and I ask : (a) On what date was the decision made to permanently close the Penguin Island Discovery Centre; (b) On what date was the decision made to demolish the facility; (c) How many feasibility studies relating to the future of the Discovery Centre have been commissioned since 2016, and what was the cost of each; (d) What consultation occurred with Perth Wildlife Encounters prior to the closure and demolition decisions; (e) Has the State determined whether a Discovery Centre will be rebuilt on Penguin Island or relocated to the mainland, and if so, when was that determination made; (f) Was funding of approximately $3 million previously allocated for Discovery Centre infrastructure, and if so, how has that funding been expended; (g) What assessment has been undertaken of the commercial impact of the Discovery Centre closure on Perth Wildlife Encounters; and (h) What is the current estimated little penguin population on Penguin Island, and how does this compare to 2007 population estimates?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 April 2026
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment
Response time
10 days
(a) The then Minister for Environment announced the closure in August 2022 following engineering advice that the facility was near the end of its structural life.
(b) The decision not to proceed with a new centre on the island and instead demolish the existing structure and rehabilitate the site was announced by the State Government on 26 August 2022. Demolition works commenced in February 2024.
(c) In 2016, the then Department of Parks and Wildlife undertook a Penguin Island Business Analysis with funding contributed from Tourism Western Australia, valued at approximately $63,100. This report considered options and made recommendations regarding visitor management, including the discovery centre.
Tourism WA has undertaken other studies on a discovery centre since 2016 and questions relating to these may be directed to the Minister for Tourism.
(d) Consultation and engagement with Perth Wildlife Encounters was conducted prior to the closure and demolition of the Discovery Centre, meeting with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) staff several times.
(e) On 26 August 2022, the then Minister for Environment announced that the planned new discovery centre on Penguin Island would not proceed. Funding was also provided to Tourism WA to support a feasibility study into a mainland centre.
(f) The State Government initially allocated $3.3 million to replace the discovery centre on Penguin Island. Following the decision not to proceed with a new discovery centre on the island, funding was reallocated to facilitate the removal of the old discovery centre, rehabilitation of penguin breeding habitat, renovation of existing on island research and staff facilities, and provision of improved visitor facilities. Funding was also provided to Tourism WA to support a feasibility study into a mainland centre.
(g) Perth Wildlife Encounters is a commercial operator and, as such, this question should be directed to them.
(h) The most recent published population estimates (from September to November 2024) of the little penguin population on Penguin Island is between 74 and 128 individuals. DBCA does not have accurate population estimates for 2007.
(b) The decision not to proceed with a new centre on the island and instead demolish the existing structure and rehabilitate the site was announced by the State Government on 26 August 2022. Demolition works commenced in February 2024.
(c) In 2016, the then Department of Parks and Wildlife undertook a Penguin Island Business Analysis with funding contributed from Tourism Western Australia, valued at approximately $63,100. This report considered options and made recommendations regarding visitor management, including the discovery centre.
Tourism WA has undertaken other studies on a discovery centre since 2016 and questions relating to these may be directed to the Minister for Tourism.
(d) Consultation and engagement with Perth Wildlife Encounters was conducted prior to the closure and demolition of the Discovery Centre, meeting with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) staff several times.
(e) On 26 August 2022, the then Minister for Environment announced that the planned new discovery centre on Penguin Island would not proceed. Funding was also provided to Tourism WA to support a feasibility study into a mainland centre.
(f) The State Government initially allocated $3.3 million to replace the discovery centre on Penguin Island. Following the decision not to proceed with a new discovery centre on the island, funding was reallocated to facilitate the removal of the old discovery centre, rehabilitation of penguin breeding habitat, renovation of existing on island research and staff facilities, and provision of improved visitor facilities. Funding was also provided to Tourism WA to support a feasibility study into a mainland centre.
(g) Perth Wildlife Encounters is a commercial operator and, as such, this question should be directed to them.
(h) The most recent published population estimates (from September to November 2024) of the little penguin population on Penguin Island is between 74 and 128 individuals. DBCA does not have accurate population estimates for 2007.
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