$1.5 million for Wildlife Wonders on the Great Ocean Road

The proposed Wildlife Wonders ecotourism experience near Apollo Bay received a boost today with The Hon. Jaala Pulford, Minister for Regional Development, visiting the site to announce $1.5 million in Victorian state government support for the project.

“We’re really thrilled to have this state government support, and endorsement of what we believe is a really important project for our region,” says Lizzie Corke, CEO of the Conservation Ecology Centre, who are developing Wildlife Wonders.

“This funding announcement today takes us to a critical tipping point. We are now able to commence work and welcome private investors to become involved.”

“Wildlife Wonders will be a huge asset to the Great Ocean Road and the Apollo Bay region. There is currently nowhere like this for tourists to visit and experience our amazing wildlife up-close in a safe environment.”

“There are so many benefits to this project. Wildlife Wonders will offer visitors a unique opportunity to experience the wild environment of the Otways in a really accessible way, and we hope it will encourage them to stay a little longer in Apollo Bay and give back to the local economy,” she said.

“Wildlife Wonders will become a significant employer in the region, providing jobs in tourism and conservation. And most importantly for us, all of the profits will go back into the activities of the Conservation Ecology Centre to ensure that we protect the wildlife of the Otways and their natural habitat as well.”

Whilst there is much work to do to turn this spectacular 20Ha property into a thriving, predator-free environment, ready for visitors to stroll through, much of our iconic Australia wildlife is already quite at home at Wildlife Wonders.

Kangaroos gather in the open areas at dusk, and koalas happily doze in the treetops of the forested areas.

On a recent visit to the site, designer Brian Massey was more than a little taken when a local koala climbed out of his tree to come and say hello.

Brian, the landscape designer the highly successful ‘Hobbiton’ in New Zealand, has been truly inspired by the stunning location of Wildlife Wonders, and the amount of wildlife already present there.

He’ll be making many more visits to Australia to oversee the creation of his vision, and to visit his furry friends.

Wildlife Wonders received approval from Colac Otway Shire in 2017 and is expected to commence construction in 2018.

Further information at: www.conservationecologycentre.org

Read the Minister’s media release.

Media contacts:

• Lizzie Corke, CEO, Conservation Ecology Centre, 0438 132 764, lizzie@conservationecologycentre.org
• Toni Stevens, Communication Coordinator, Conservation Ecology Centre, 0401 763 130