As your local Member of Parliament for South Perth, I have the privilege of representing a community that is home to one of Western Australia’s most cherished institutions—Perth Zoo.
Since March 2021, the Cook Labor Government has invested $51 million through the Perth Zoo Master Plan to transform Perth Zoo into a world-class conservation and tourism destination. Key Masterplan achievements to date include:
- The Café Precinct
The completion of the vibrant Café Precinct has created a central hub, ensuring visitors have a comfortable space to relax and refuel during their visit. The precinct includes a coffee and wine bar, plus plenty of dine-in or grab-and-go options, catering to all tastes.
- The Adventure Playground
The adventure playground provides an inclusive, nature-inspired play space for children of all ages and abilities. Designed to spark imagination, the playground features a wheelchair-accessible trampoline, rope tunnels, and a climbable numbat sculpture.
- Gibbon Habitat & Primate Crossing
The $11.7 million gibbon habitat will triple the animals’ space while also offering visitors new ways to see them. The 'Primate Crossing' habitat will feature overhead rope pathways along which gibbons can swing directly above zoo visitors, creating an immersive and memorable encounter with wildlife.
In addition to the Perth Zoo's Master Plan activities, the Cook Labor Government has also committed to supporting other activities and initiatives including:
- Numbat Genome Mapping
Perth Zoo, in partnership with UWA, was provided funding to undertake a major scientific breakthrough - genome mapping of the numbat. Perth Zoo has been breeding the endangered numbats since 1993, as there is estimated to be fewer than 1,000 remaining in the wild. This genome mapping will enable scientists and conservationists to make better informed decisions about how to safeguard the species into the future.
- Perth Zoo Free Pass
The $6.2 million Perth Zoo Free Pass offered four free Perth Zoo passes for all Western Australian experiencing cost of living pressures to enjoy a memorable day at the Zoo. The pass included free admission for both children and adults, and free public transport to and from the Zoo. In the past year, over 800,000 people visited the Zoo, breaking visitation records.
As your local MP, I have worked closely with the government and community to champion these initiatives, and am dedicated to ensuring Perth Zoo remains a source of pride for South Perth and all of WA.
