Plans for a taller, larger version of Taronga Zoo’s removed cable car have divided residents of Mosman in the affluent north shore suburb, amid fears it will be a visual blight on their views of Sydney Harbour. .
The proposed $77 million replacement for the much-loved Sky Safari, which from 1987 until last year carried 20 million visitors from the nearby pier up the steep slope to the zoo’s entrance, will have pylons taller than 35 meters that They will support larger gondolas.
Bob Clark, a member of the Mosman Parks and Bushland Association, fears the imposing transport will result in “an imposing scar on this important coastal area of the harbour”.
‘It’s not just the Poles; you will have the gondolas going around in circles. “It will have a significant adverse impact in terms of visual comfort,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Mr Clark believed the pylons were being made higher to “get those harbor views towards North Head and South Head” towards the end of the hilltop.
He described it as “exploiting the port when it is not necessary.”
The Taronga Conservation Society has submitted plans for the new Sky Safari cable car to NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully, who will decide whether the project will go ahead.
Taronga Zoo’s former cable car closed last year after being in operation since 1987.
Some Mosman residents fear the upgraded Sky Safari will affect their views of Sydney Harbour. In the photo, Taronga Zoo.
The society said the taller pylons reflect “Taronga’s commitment to preserving the current tree canopy, including avoiding the need to cut down heritage-listed hoop pines” and would allow for canopy growth.
While the Sky Safari would be “a new highlight” of the harbor views towards Bradleys Head, it would “reinforce the identity and location” of the zoo.
“The impact is considered to constitute a moderate change in a restricted area that is ongoing but can be reversed,” the plans state.
The new cable car would provide a “family-focused tourism infrastructure” without “unreasonable impacts… in terms of views, traffic, acoustic impacts during construction and ongoing operation.”
A Taronga Zoo spokeswoman said the larger gondolas would hold 10 people each, compared to six under the previous system, and would have fold-down seats to allow for larger wheelchairs and prams.
An artist’s impression of the new Sky Safari cable car, which is currently being considered by the New South Wales government for approval.
“The larger cabins and easier connection to public transport mean that visitors who previously found it difficult to navigate the zoo will be able to do so more easily,” the spokeswoman said.
Mosman Mayor Ann Marie Kimber said the council had been “generally supportive” of the proposal despite residents’ concerns about the larger scale and noise of the project.
“We have asked for continued communication with affected residents and the city council, and for no advertising on the outside of the gondolas because we are concerned about the visual impact,” he said.
The new system will feature between 20 and 25 rotating cable cars running around 1.5km across the 28ha site.
At this stage, the cost of using the new Sky Safari will be included in the zoo entry ticket, just like its predecessor.
The original service was first installed in 1987 before being upgraded in 2000.
In January 2023, the zoo announced that the “aging asset” had “unfortunately reached the end of its useful life and significant upgrades were needed for it to continue operating.”
“Its withdrawal paves the way for a proposed improvement that would transform Sky Safari into an unforgettable and fully accessible family experience,” Taronga Zoo said at the time.
If approved, the zoo’s plan for an enhanced Sky Safari could open to customers in 2025.