Taronga Western Plains Zoo Business Case
Client: Taronga Zoo
Industry: Social infrastructure
Capabilities: CBA, Economic evaluation
The Challenge
Taronga Zoo is a NSW Government state-owned enterprise with the mandate of advancing wildlife conservation, environmental education, and scientific research. Constituted under the Zoological Parks Board Act 1973, Taronga operates as a statutory authority committed to connecting people with nature and securing a shared future for wildlife and communities.
Taronga Zoo operates two zoos in NSW: one on Sydney’s north shore and the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. These zoos form the cornerstone of the organisation’s operating mandate.
The Western Plains Zoo has been limited in its growth potential by a constraint in appropriate hospitality services in the region and access to suitably qualified staff. The organisation already received $20m in grant funding to support the development of additional accommodation services and a convention centre on the zoo grounds.
The Action
Polis Partners, in association with an RP Infrastructure led consortium, completed a business case to support Taronga Zoo's vision of providing a range of accommodation services, as well as an onsite educational facility to support the sustainable growth of the organisation.
Studies undertaken by Polis to support the business case included investment logic mapping, options development, cost benefit analysis, financial analysis, and benefit realisation analysis.
The Results
A business case was completed in line with NSW Government best practice guidelines and was submitted to NSW Treasury to seek additional funding to support the further development of the proposed program of works.