Local residents object to plans for Taronga Zoo's new Sky Safari

Taronga Zoo recently revealed plans for a new Sky Safari cable car system are reported to have generated objections from local residents over the height of its pylons.

Replacing the former Sky Safari that was retired in early 2023, the new $77 million cable car attraction has been exhibited on the NSW Government’s state significant development (SSD) website.

The cable car's new pylons, with a maximum height of 36.5 metres, the pylons, are higher than the original Sky Safari height, which has angered some local residents.

In its response to submissions, Taronga Zoo that a reduced pylon height of 12 metres would mean removing an extra 11 trees. Under the proposal, seven trees will be removed, and small upper tree branches pruned.

A Taronga Zoo spokesperson told Australasian Leisure Management that the original Sky Safari could take six people per cabin and couldn’t accommodate wheelchairs and prams greater than 60cm. The new design would make the zoo accessible to everyone, the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson explains "the larger, more accessible gondolas require increased clearance around and below the cabins.

“The proposed height of the pylons reflects Taronga’s commitment to preserve the current tree canopy, including avoiding the need to cut through heritage-listed hoop pines. This also allows for canopy growth across the coming decades.”

Mosman Parks and Bushland Association Committee has noted that 36.5 metres is around the height of a 10-storey building.

Committee member Bob Clark told local media “their visual impact is magnified by the passage of the larger gondolas travelling up and down.

“Taronga’s reason for the excessive height is to save the two heritage listed hoop pines which have already been trimmed for the previous Skyway"

The $77 million project aims to replace the original cable car system, which closed in 2023 after 38 years of service and over 20 million passenger trips.

Plans show the new 1.5km-long cable car system would transport passengers up to 36m above the zoo. It would have six pylons, instead of the existing nine, as well as new purpose-built stations at Taronga’s upper and lower entrances.

Visitors will be able to enter and exit at both the top and bottom of the zoo site.

Plans for the project state "the Sky Safari will provide unique, affordable, family-focused sightseeing tourism infrastructure that provides comfortable all-season experiences to support year-round growth in visitation to the zoo.

“This will assist in securing the financial future of the zoo to ensure that it can continue to undertake a range of conservation and education projects.”

Images: Concepts for Taronga Zoo's new Sky Safari cable car system.