❓ Mr. Papalia questions the Minister for Environment regarding the government's open-range zoo announcement, inquiring about the agency that advocated for it, alternative locations considered, and cost estimates. The Minister's response provides context and justification for the project but doesn't directly answer the specific questions.
AnsweredQoN 869Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
OPEN-RANGE ZOO
869. Mr P. PAPALIA to the Minister for
Environment:
I refer to the government's
announcement of an open-range zoo.
(1) Which agency prepared the
submission advocating for the open-range zoo?
Mr
F.A. Alban interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Swan Hills, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I refer
to the government's announcement of an open-range zoo.
(1) Which agency prepared the submission advocating for the
open-range zoo?
(2) What other locations were suggested?
(3) What cost
estimates were provided by the minister's department for the zoo itself
and other associated infrastructure costs?
869. Mr P. PAPALIA to the Minister for
Environment:
I refer to the government's
announcement of an open-range zoo.
(1) Which agency prepared the
submission advocating for the open-range zoo?
Mr
F.A. Alban interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Swan Hills, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr P. PAPALIA : I refer
to the government's announcement of an open-range zoo.
(1) Which agency prepared the submission advocating for the
open-range zoo?
(2) What other locations were suggested?
(3) What cost
estimates were provided by the minister's department for the zoo itself
and other associated infrastructure costs?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Warnbro for the question.
(1)–(3)
The government announced last week that it has identified a preferred site for
an open-range zoo for Western Australia. It is something that has been talked
about in this state long before I became Minister for Environment and something
that we have been looking at in the environment portfolio, particularly with
Perth Zoo and the Perth zoological board, but also in conjunction with other
agencies and across government. I visited Werribee Open Range Zoo some two
years ago and saw the potential there. We have been doing a lot of work over
the last couple of years to look at what would potentially be the best site to
bring one to Western Australia. What is very important about understanding how
an open-range zoo fits in is that animal welfare standards are continuing to
improve. These animals require a larger area. Indeed, other states have gone
down this path. New South Wales has an open-range zoo at Dubbo, Victoria has
the Werribee Open Range Zoo and even South Australia has an open-range zoo.
Perth Zoo is a world leader in zoos.
Several
members interjected.
The SPEAKER : That is enough!
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Indeed, members opposite might not be aware, but the current CEO of Perth Zoo
is also the president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Perth Zoo
strides on the world stage. Not only do we do incredible work in this state in
breeding our own unique fauna for release, which is very important and is our
first order of responsibility, but also, as a wealthy state and as a population
that has a focus on conservation, there is a very important role that we can
play in breeding animals that are on the brink of extinction in other places
around the world. Perth Zoo is very well known for its work on orangutans, for
example, and we want to do more work particularly with species such as
rhinoceros. So that we can accommodate that, we have identified a site. I think
it is an excellent site. I would be interested to hear what members opposite
think. It is a 700-hectare site located within the Avon Valley National Park.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
Mr A.P. JACOB :
What a silly interjection!
The SPEAKER : Thank you for that titbit of information. I know that everybody is
excited about the zoo, but relax.
Mr A.P. JACOB : The
good news for the house is that this is not a site that the government has to
purchase; it is a site that has already been purchased. It is a site that is
currently vested with the Department of Parks and Wildlife, which I think
answers some of the member's question. It will ultimately be vested
with Perth Zoo. This is just a part of sensible government. Quite simply, if we
want to have a zoo experience for the people of Perth and for the next
generation and for the one after that —
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, I call you to order for the first
time. You have got 30 seconds, minister.
Mr A.P. JACOB : If
we want the people of Western Australia to continue to have zoo experiences, an
open‑range zoo is simply part of sensible planning. This site will
complement the existing Perth Zoo. It is less than 70 kilometres away from the
existing Perth Zoo and it is a site that the government owns freehold.
(1)–(3)
The government announced last week that it has identified a preferred site for
an open-range zoo for Western Australia. It is something that has been talked
about in this state long before I became Minister for Environment and something
that we have been looking at in the environment portfolio, particularly with
Perth Zoo and the Perth zoological board, but also in conjunction with other
agencies and across government. I visited Werribee Open Range Zoo some two
years ago and saw the potential there. We have been doing a lot of work over
the last couple of years to look at what would potentially be the best site to
bring one to Western Australia. What is very important about understanding how
an open-range zoo fits in is that animal welfare standards are continuing to
improve. These animals require a larger area. Indeed, other states have gone
down this path. New South Wales has an open-range zoo at Dubbo, Victoria has
the Werribee Open Range Zoo and even South Australia has an open-range zoo.
Perth Zoo is a world leader in zoos.
Several
members interjected.
The SPEAKER : That is enough!
Mr A.P. JACOB :
Indeed, members opposite might not be aware, but the current CEO of Perth Zoo
is also the president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Perth Zoo
strides on the world stage. Not only do we do incredible work in this state in
breeding our own unique fauna for release, which is very important and is our
first order of responsibility, but also, as a wealthy state and as a population
that has a focus on conservation, there is a very important role that we can
play in breeding animals that are on the brink of extinction in other places
around the world. Perth Zoo is very well known for its work on orangutans, for
example, and we want to do more work particularly with species such as
rhinoceros. So that we can accommodate that, we have identified a site. I think
it is an excellent site. I would be interested to hear what members opposite
think. It is a 700-hectare site located within the Avon Valley National Park.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
Mr A.P. JACOB :
What a silly interjection!
The SPEAKER : Thank you for that titbit of information. I know that everybody is
excited about the zoo, but relax.
Mr A.P. JACOB : The
good news for the house is that this is not a site that the government has to
purchase; it is a site that has already been purchased. It is a site that is
currently vested with the Department of Parks and Wildlife, which I think
answers some of the member's question. It will ultimately be vested
with Perth Zoo. This is just a part of sensible government. Quite simply, if we
want to have a zoo experience for the people of Perth and for the next
generation and for the one after that —
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, I call you to order for the first
time. You have got 30 seconds, minister.
Mr A.P. JACOB : If
we want the people of Western Australia to continue to have zoo experiences, an
open‑range zoo is simply part of sensible planning. This site will
complement the existing Perth Zoo. It is less than 70 kilometres away from the
existing Perth Zoo and it is a site that the government owns freehold.
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