WONDERS UP CLOSE

Tourists to see wildlife in safety

AUSTRALIA’S wildlife might be a big selling point, but that popularity is causing havoc along the Great Ocean Road, with tourists blocking traffic and running into nature reserves to chase after our protected creatures.

An eco-tourism experience at Apollo Bay hopes to address this issue, offering an up close and predator-free chance for visitors to meet fauna in the company of a qualified conservationist guide.

The Cape Otway Conservation Ecology Centre’s Wildlife Wonders project has been given the go-ahead from Colac Otway Shire Council, days after the operation received more than half a million dollars in funding.

State Tourism Minister John Eren said the project would help people see wildlife in safety.

“Wildlife Wonders is a fantastic project, which will see international tourists, who are so compelled to look at our koalas, but, of course, at the moment they stop on the road to look at these creatures and it does cause a bit of a problem,” Mr Eren said. “Wildlife Wonders will go a long way to attracting people to their location, where they can see it in safety.”

Last week, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning warned locals to “keep a respectful distance” from wildlife after reports of a male koala being harassed in Lorne.

The conservation centre received $557,962 as part of the Commonwealth’s Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure program to undertake planning, design and a business case for the Wildlife Wonders program.

Conservation Ecology Centre chief executive Lizzie Corke said she wanted visitors to the 20ha property to get a true Otways experience.

“Accompanied by a qualified conservationist guide, small groups will experience a beautifully restored area, where koalas doze, potoroos and bandicoots forage and kangaroos hop along the horizon,” Ms Corke said.

Profits will be reinvested into the Conservation Ecology Centre’s research and conservation activities.

The attraction is expected to create at least 30 permanent jobs.

Colac Otway Shire Mayor Chris Potter said his council was committed to developing the shire’s visitor economy.

“The centre is ideally placed to engage visitors and our local community in conservation to the benefit of our region,” Cr Potter said.

Wildlife Wonders is expected to be open by December next year.