Village Roadshow has announced proposals to develop a theme park called African Safari World, south west of Melbourne, Australia.

The AUS$220m (US$207m, £105m, 140m euro) park would be located on a 40ha site near the existing Werribee Open Range Zoo and involve the redevelopment of the zoo to link it into the new park and the African safari theme.

The theme park would reportedly include an African animal tour, thrill rides, rollercoasters, water rides, man-made lakes and mountains and a 4D theatre, while the redeveloped zoo would see improvements to habitats and enclosures, increased numbers of animals, an education and conservation centre and an Australian animal experience.

The proposal says the park could be operational by 2010 and draw 1.3million visitors each year, bringing in AUS$864m to the State of Victoria’s economy.

Village Roadshow International theme parks chief John Harden told the Herald Sun that the park would “promote Melbourne and Victoria to the world”. “It’s about giving all those millions of existing tourists even more to do in Victoria and to encourage them to stay longer and spend more money,” he said.

The plans do not yet have the endorsement of Zoos Victoria however.

“To carve out Werribee Open Range Zoo from the management of Zoos Victoria could seriously compromise the welfare of our animals, and the conservation and education outcomes Zoos Victoria delivers to the people of the State of Victoria. It would undermine the operations of our other two zoos,” said Andrew Fairley, chair of Zoos Victoria. “Zoos Victoria knows zoos, we are the best people to run zoos and the government has entrusted us with this role.”

The organisation has been asked to participate in a review of the proposals by the State Government.

Tourism minister Tim Holding said: “There is obvious appeal, but the government and the community would need to be assured about the on-going proper supervision of the animals under such a proposal.”

Elsewhere, Village Roadshow has acquired Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter and Underwater World in Auckland, New Zealand for AUS$11.3m (US$10.6m, £5.4m, 6.8m euros) and has also bought the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park on the Hawaiian island of Oahu for US$27m (£13.7m, AUS$28.8m, 17.2m euro).

The company plans to develop the Hawaiian waterpark using the successful formula of its Wet’n’Wild waterpark on Australia’s Gold Coast.

Speaking about the Kelly Tarlton’s acquisition, VRL managing director, Graham Burke, said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to develop our strategic focus on attractions and theme parks, following on from our recent acquisition of Sydney Attractions Group and the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park on Oahu.

“Kelly Tarlton’s is an excellent fit with our Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World and Sea World assets, bringing with it exciting marketing and operational synergies between them. “Importantly, in common with Kelly Tarlton’s, our businesses combine entertainment and education with a strong commitment to research, conservation and our environmental heritage.

“Looking to the future, we will now be looking at various options to both upgrade the facilities at Kelly Tarlton’s and explore with the local government authorities the potential to further improve the facility with a view to growing it’s status as one of New Zealand’s premier domestic and international tourist destinations.”

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