Deadline At Blackbutt

Newcastle Herald

Monday December 3, 2007

By JANE PARSONS

APPROVAL for the $200,000 repair of Blackbutt Reserve's wildlife exhibits after the June floods will be discussed at tomorrow night's Newcastle City Council meeting.

If given the go-ahead, council staff will begin work on a design process that will include updated amenities at the aviary and small macropod exhibits and new fencing.

"We would start on the design work soon and by early next year call for quotes," council sport and recreation co-ordinator Rod Maughan said last week.

"We expect the work would be completed by June or July."

Mr Maughan said a storm recovery management report had identified and outlined the damage to the animal exhibits, including the four small bird aviaries, perimeter fencing to the wildlife exhibits and the macropod enclosure.

"The design work for the aviaries would be a chance to improve on them," he said.

"We would continue to receive regular input from Blackbutt Support Group and Blackbutt Working Party, the volunteer organisations here, to identify how this would best be approached."

Mr Maughan said the small macropod area, which houses kangaroos and wallabies, probably would not change, because most of the work would concern rebuilding fencing and tackling erosion.

"The report's aim is to seek direction from council on the future of the exhibits," he said.

"There is strong community support to return them to pre-storm condition, however, the other option is to not replace them.

"The quail, king parrots, rainbow lorikeet and doves in the aviaries, as well as affected animals have been relocated to other areas.

"We are recommending that [the] council repair the damage.

"In order to meet financial targets, the wildlife exhibits are an essential part of the reserve.

"It is proposed to ultimately consider entry fees for the wildlife exhibits to improve the reserve's financial position.

"Restoring the exhibits to pre-storm condition would have community support and would be well-used by the community. They are popular exhibits."

Mr Maughan said many community members had inquired about the wildlife exhibits since the storm.

Private companies, service clubs and the reserve's volunteer groups had offered financial and labour help.

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© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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