Steve, you're leaving! » Darling Downs Zoo

Steve, you're leaving!
13-11-2008

Darling Downs Zoo on market for $1.5m | Pets and Animals | Toowoomba Chronicle
I'm sorry to hear that you are selling, I hope that you and your wife can now relaxe and enjoy yourselves, you certainly deserve it.

13-11-2008

I'm sad but not surprised.
Australia is probably the toughest country in the world in which to establish and operate a zoo - hostile petty officials; draconian legislation; rising costs and political correctness run riot have got to wear you down.

But Steve - you did it mate!
A lot of us dream about it but you did it.

I hope you find a buyer with the right outlook (and a high tolerance of officialdom) to take over the reins.

Keep your parrots, build some aviaries, unwind a little and enjoy life. But don't leave this forum - we need blokes like you who know what they are talking about.

15-11-2008

Relax folks - there's a big difference between putting the zoo on the market and actually selling it!!!

Especially as we are going to be very fussy about who buys it - a couple of would-bes have been sent packing already.

Our zoo may not sell for years and so we are continuing with our building program and all our other initiatives. The beauty of our situation is that, although we WANT to sell the zoo and get away from the crap that surrounds the running of such a business in this State, the business is trading profitably so we don't HAVE to sell it.

I'll be here for a good while yet!

15-11-2008

Hi Steve,

That is certainly good news and a sound approach I must say! I really look forward to further development at the park (allthough I am literally miles away ... I do care)!

With regard statewise, I just do not know how things can improve quickly enough. I realise a lot really has to happen in the state govt. bureacracy to really push things forward in a positive way.

I just hope the country's Minister of the Environment who is more receptive on issues relating to zoos and wildlife conservation can do something substantial for your state and Darling Downs in particular!

Goodday,

Jelle

ARAZPA - Darling Downs Zoo
24-11-2008

Is there an update as to the status of Darling Downs Zoo receiving Arazpa accreditation? Cheers.

24-11-2008

Not yet. Actual accreditation could be a long way off yet. We have already heard here on ZooChat that Cairns Wildlife Safari Reserve has achieved Provisional Institutional Membership but won't have it's accreditation inspection until 2010.

Darling Downs Zoo has submitted it's preliminary application to the Accreditation Officer for her initial impressions but that was some weeks ago. The workload in that office is astronomical at the moment with existing and new institutions clamouring for accreditation.

So, if and when we receive Provisional Institutional Membership we will still have to wait for quite some time before the inspecting team gets around to us.

I will keep you all posted on any progress.

25-11-2008

I hope everything will turn out fine, all the best, hopefully, the buyers will love animals as much as you and your wife! But I'm sure you'll make sure of that