Taronga Zoo stands by maximum pylon height
Taronga Zoo has not lowered the pylon height for its revamped Sky Safari proposal, angering a local preservation group.
Taronga’s amended development application for its Sky Safari cable car system is on exhibition on the State Government’s state significant development (SSD) website until 10 June.
The maximum height of the pylons, which some locals had opposed, will be higher than the original Sky Safari height, and remain unchanged at 36.5 metres. There will be six pylons replacing the existing nine.
Taronga said in its response to submissions 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 spokesperson told NL 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 larger, more accessible gondolas require increased clearance around and below the cabins,” the spokesperson said. “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 said 36.5 metres was around the height of a 10-storey building. “Their visual impact is magnified by the passage of the larger gondolas travelling up and down,” committee member Bob Clark said.
“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,” said Mr Clark. He said the former Skyway had views of Sydney Harbour and that the visual impact of the new Skyway was a problem that had been ‘created simply for the fleeting view of the heads from the gondolas.’
The heights of lower pylons 1 and 2 are to be increased from 4.3 and 9.7 metres, to 7.2 and 11.4 metres to reflect design development and revised clearance requirements from the cable car supplier.
Mosman Council Mayor Ann Marie Kimber told NL that council ‘will consider any potential response or submission in due course.’
“Council (has) generally supported the redevelopment as it will provide improved access and an enhanced visitor experience,” Mayor Kimber said.