The Werribee Open Range Zoo Expansion is featured on the cover of the Local Jobs First 2024-25 Annual Report. It is an $88 million Local Jobs First Strategic Project, funded by the Victorian Government, that delivers a world-class experience, with a purpose-built elephant habitat to house Zoos Victoria’s Asian elephant herd that was relocated from Melbourne Zoo.
The Elephant Trail comprises a 21-hectare open range habitat featuring 6 large interconnecting habitats for roaming, foraging and socialising, 2 mega pools that collectively hold nearly 2 million litres of water, 2 specially designed elephant barns equipped with state-of-the-art healthcare training spaces and 3,300 tonnes of sand, and 2 impressive overpasses that allow the elephants to cross over visitor walking trails. Expanded facilities also include a connecting walking trail featuring nature play areas and additional animal habitats, landscapes for priority conservation species, a café and a viewing area overlooking the elephant pools.
Development Victoria delivered the new Elephant Trail and Waterhole Trail in partnership with Zoos Victoria.
Development Victoria’s design-and-construct contractor, Fairbrother, committed to supporting social enterprises within the local community. The project’s outcomes exceeded the original commitments for the Victorian Government’s Local Jobs First and Social Procurement policies, demonstrating its positive impact on the local economy and community. The initial minimum local content requirements were 91% for construction and 83% for furniture, fixtures and equipment. The project achieved 98% for construction and 93% overall local content.
In particular, Fairbrother worked closely with Ceres Fair Wood located in Preston, Victoria, who manage supply chains for sustainable and recycled timber. Together they sourced 2,530 linear metres of Class 1 Decking timber for the Werribee Open Range Zoo’s timber boardwalk, which travels around the outside of the terrace and elephant pool areas. Ceres Fair Wood sourced from a local timber supplier who had recycled Spotted Gum and Ironbark from a demolition project in Queensland which met Zoos Victoria’s Ethical and Sustainable Procurement of Wood Products procurement policy.
Additionally, Fairbrother engaged local Victorian supplier Animal Carpentry to construct the boardwalk. They employed a female apprentice who worked on the Northern Boardwalk, also contributing to Fairbrother’s Local Industry Development Plan.