Adelaide Zoo given another Government advance

Adelaide Zoo has been advanced another $600,000 from the South Australian Government to help with running expenses.

The Zoo, which is still negotiating with bankers Westpac over its $24 million debt, has been given more than $1 million from its 2012/13 government allowance.

The latest funds, supplied during November, are expected to cover daily running expenses until the end of the month. By then it is hoped an agreement will have been reached with the bank over how the zoo will repay its debt.

Adelaide Zoo has not been making repayments on its loan and South Australian Government officials have warned previously the Zoo may have to surrender some of its assets if it cannot repay the debt.

South Australian Treasurer Jack Snelling says advances of the Zoo's allowance are not sustainable in the longer term, stating "eventually it'll have to be resolved but we want to do that as an overall package, resolving both their ongoing funding and the debt that the zoo has to Westpac, have it all resolved together.

"I think there is a case to be made for (increasing) the annual grant which the Government gives to them, which has been frozen for a number of years."

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