Rockhampton Zoo opens new monitor lizard enclosure

Rockhampton Zoo has officially opened its new enclosure for their resident perenties, the largest of Australia’s monitor lizards. The enclosure includes ponds, plants, rock piles and log piles for the lizards to climb on, and heated rocks to keep them warm in winter.

Queensland Acting Premier and Minister for Local Government Steven Miles officially opened the new enclosure, made possible with a $320,000 allocation and noted that "the ‘Works for Queensland’ funding has enabled these incredible reptiles to be comfortably displayed for locals and visitors."

Queensland Assistant Minister for Education and Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga said the zoo was one of the most loved attractions in Rockhampton adding “The Works for Queensland program continues to have an enormously positive impact here and throughout regional Queensland.

“Building this new enclosure is great for the animals but also great for tourism.”

Rockhampton Regional Councillor Cherie Rutherford joined the Acting Premier at the Zoo for the opening of the enclosure and advised “the Zoo receives 150,000 visitors each year. More than 77,000 of these are from outside the city and most stay overnight, bringing $27.8 million dollars into the local economy.

“I thank the Queensland Government for its support through Works for Queensland, assisting Council to deliver these types of projects for the community.”

For more information: www.dlgrma.qld.gov.au/works-for-queensland