Jill L’Estrange, HPG President and Julie Goodsir, HPG Vice President attended a briefing with the project team on the proposed Revitalisation of the Taronga Zoo Sky Safari.
We thank you for the opportunity to comment on the revitalisation project.
In context we cite and support the Vision of Taronga Zoo to “secure a shared future for wildlife and people.”
Planned Revitalisation
We acknowledge the need for the zoo to be continuously upgrading their facilities for both animals and humans. The current plan is to revitalise the present sky safari. The NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said, “reinvigorating the safari will provide a significant boost to the Sydney Visitor economy, all the while supporting wildlife and conservation. It will provide an unforgettable and inclusive tourism experience for guests of all ages.”
The planned revitalisation will involve additional, larger, and more accessible gondolas. These gondolas will be able to move patrons more quickly helping reduce the queues and wait time for entering a gondola at the wharf. We support this improvement. Opening the bottom entrance to receive guests would also help reduce waiting queues.
However, we question the need to extend the present gondola route with another four paths across the main body of the zoo. The plan also includes the building of two more loading stations and a new viewing platform near the giraffe enclosure. These are large ugly structures.
Impact of Planned Infrastructure
Because of the steepness of the topography, the expansion will involve constructing supporting pylons 15 – 40 metres or over high. This means the supporting cables and gondolas will rise above the tree line and be highly visible from all vantage points. The extended gondola route will form a moving network of overhead transport in the relatively small 28-hectare site of the zoo. There is a danger of the zoo resembling a Disneyland or Easter Show, taking away from the present quiet, green ambiance that benefits both visitors and animals therein.
It was suggested that the Sky Safari would be integrated into the terrain of Bradley’s Head and the existing tree canopy; however, the new stations and viewing platform mean more construction, increasing the urban environment. Already the zoo appears quite urbanised when viewed from the harbour and southern shore as distinct from the natural environment of Bradleys Head.
We appreciate that the pylons currently located on the present route must be upgraded to support the heavier larger gondolas. However, the building of additional pylons throughout the main body of the zoo will necessarily involve the felling of a number of mature trees, thereby reducing the green cover of the whole area.
There is a planned new gondola station and pylon at the upper entrance to the zoo. This historic site with the elaborate Edwardian Baroque style entrance built in 1915, is one of the points of interest and history at Taronga. The planned construction completely jars with this present classical architecture.
Impact of Anticipated Increase in Traffic
It is noted also that the revitalisation will correspond with an upgrade of the Taronga Zoo Wharf which will supposedly encourage guests off roads and onto public transport. Without strong evidence to support this proposition we suggest that this may not necessarily be the case. Many visitors to the zoo do not come by public transport, as it is inconvenient to do so from many northern, western and southern suburbs. As local residents, we note that many zoo visitors arrive by car.
In the warmer months, especially on weekends, public holidays, and school holidays the large number of visitors to the zoo not only creates traffic chaos and delays in the suburb of Mosman and neighbouring Cremorne, but local suburban streets also become a parking lot. Residents surrounding the Zoo and of nearby Clifton Gardens have difficulty leaving and accessing their homes due to this traffic chaos. Bus/ferry connections are disrupted due to buses being unable to navigate the traffic jams to connect with the Taronga Zoo ferry service. As a result, local commuters are unable to access the city via the ferry service. With the anticipation of more guests visiting the Zoo, unless the traffic and parking issue is resolved, this proposed development is likely to raise the ire of the local population.
Conclusion
Whilst the revitalisation will undoubtedly benefit patrons by giving easier pedestrian access within the zoo grounds, there is however little apparent benefit to the wildlife and animals housed therein, which is contrary to the Zoo’s Vision.
We suggest that the allocated $ 81 million be used to build alternate internal access ways eg a moving pedestrian footway, more escalators replacing steps, and allocating some of the funds for an upgrade of zoo parking facilities.
In summary, whilst the HPG supports the upgrading of the present gondola in its present route we are not in favour of the extension of the gondola route. We ask that more environmentally acceptable methods of improving pedestrian access be considered than extending the gondola circuit. We also suggest that further consideration be given to not only the environmental impact of this proposed development but also the impact on the amenity of the local area.
Jill L’Estrange, President, and Julie Goodsir, Vice President
Headland Preservation Group
30 November 2022