John Burgess, who built and managed Sydney Aquarium and Wildlife Zoo at Darling Harbour, obtained approval in 2017 for a cage-free zoo on 16.4 hectares at Bungarribee Park, in Western Sydney Parklands.
The venue’s proposed name, “Sydney Zoo”, raised the ire of Taronga Zoo, arguing it would mislead overseas and interstate visitors into thinking the Blacktown venue was related to the existing facility on the shores of Sydney Harbour, in Mosman, some 33 kilometres away.
“As the premier Sydney zoo for more than 100 years Taronga Zoo is often thought of and described by visitors as Sydney zoo," said Cameron Kerr, CEO, of the Taronga Conservation Society Australia, which runs Taronga Zoo.
While supportive of the new zoo, sharing of advice and providing other services in its development, the society sought to have the Federal Court declare that the use of the name (Sydney Zoo) would constitute misleading and deceptive conduct.
The parties, in settling out of court, said they had resolved the legal proceedings over the use of the name and” agreed to take reasonable steps to avoid confusion for visitors to the individual facilities,” a joint statement said.
John Burgess said it was "terrific to have clarity" about the venue’s branding ahead of the zoo’s opening in 2019.
The zoo will not cage its animals allowing them to roam free in large open spaces.
“Sydney Zoo will generate a massive $45M per annum contribution to the NSW economy and attract up to one million visitors each year,” said NSW Minister for Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres, in 2017.
“This exciting tourism and educational hub will create 160 full-time jobs during construction, and 120 full-time jobs during operation.”
Sydney Zoo in partnership with Western Sydney University will see students participating in animal rehabilitation as well as technology design.
