Zoos Victoria Annual Report 2009-10.pdf

2009-10 

ZOOS VICTORIA 

ANNUAL REPORT

Contents 

02 About Zoos Victoria 

03 Our Vision and Mission 

04 Becoming the World’s Leading 

Zoo-based Conservation Organisation 

05 Chairman’s Message 

06 CEO’s Message 

07 Major Highlights for 2009-10 

09 Financial Summary 

12 Melbourne Zoo 

14 Healesville Sanctuary 

16 Werribee Open Range Zoo 

18 Wildlife Conservation and Science 

20 Visitor and Community Development 

22 Community Inclusiveness 

24 Zoos Victoria Foundation 

26 Our Sustainable Operations 

28 Our People 

32 Key Performance Indicators 

33 Corporate Governance and Other Disclosure 

34 Board Profiles 

40 Publications 

41 Conference Proceedings and Presentations 

42 Our Partners and Supporters 

43 Financial Report

ABOUT 

ZOOS VICTORIA 

Zoos Victoria is an important social, economic and 

cultural asset for Victorians. Each of our three great 

zoos – Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and 

Werribee Open Range Zoo – offers unique and 

exciting wildlife and conservation experiences. 

Where Our Visitors Come From 

Our total collection includes more than 

2,700 animals ranging from popular native 

Australian animals to rare and threatened 

species from both here and overseas. 

We are one of the largest paying attractions 

in Victoria, with more than 1.7 million visitors 

coming to our zoos each year. About 11 per 

cent of our visitors are from overseas with 

Healesville Sanctuary attracting the highest 

proportion of international tourists. 

Some 160,000 students visit a Zoos Victoria 

property each year, making it one of the 

largest non-classroom educators in the State. 

We aim to be the leading authority on captive 

animals and a major facilitator of wildlife 

knowledge leading to conservation action. 

Zoos Victoria is internationally recognised for 

its veterinary, animal husbandry, research 

and horticultural expertise. We are the only 

State teaching facility (in association with 

the University of Melbourne) for wildlife 

veterinary science. 

We are continually improving existing 

infrastructure and building new exhibits to 

meet visitor needs while providing worldclass 

animal care. 

Our Three Zoos 

Melbourne Zoo is a ‘window to the world’ 

of wildlife that provides an immersive animal 

experience and encourages people to act to 

protect and enhance the world’s wildlife and 

habitats. 

Healesville Sanctuary showcases the 

wonder of the Australian bush and its wildlife, 

incorporating aspects of Indigenous culture. 

Werribee Open Range Zoo provides an 

open-range adventure featuring grassland 

animals of Africa, North America, Asia and 

Australia. 

Zoos Victoria’s Animal Collection 

Animal Type Number of Specimens 

30 June 2010 

Fish 78 

Amphibian 398 

Reptile 499 

Bird 1058 

Mammal 744 

Total 2777 

Friends of the Zoos Ltd 

Friends of the Zoos Ltd is an independent, 

non-profit organisation established 

to support Zoos Victoria and wildlife 

conservation. 

FOTZ Ltd has been operating for 30 years 

providing financial and in-kind support to 

Zoos Victoria. 

FOTZ Ltd provides vital non-financial 

support through volunteer workers. 

FOTZ volunteers are active across all Zoos 

Victoria properties as guides, information 

officers and general supporters for Zoo 

visitors and staff. 

Zoos Victoria thanks FOTZ for their 

continuing commitment, dedication and 

support for the three zoos and wildlife 

conservation more generally. 

Zoos Victoria Friends of the Zoos 

Members 

Zoos Victoria offers membership to 

Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and 

Werribee Open Range Zoo. As of 1 July 

2009 Zoos Victoria became responsible 

for the management of membership. A 

key focus of 2010-11 will be to develop 

a Membership Business Plan to grow 

membership and improve retention rates. 

As of 30 June 2010, 84,549 Victorians are 

Zoos Victoria Friends of the Zoos members 

enjoying unlimited access to our three zoos, 

free access to some interstate zoos, as 

well as discounts and the latest information 

about zoo happenings in the quarterly 

magazine ‘Zoo News’. 

How to Become a Zoos Victoria Friends 

of the Zoos Member 

To become a member visit zoo.org.au/fotz 

call 9285 9325 or visit the membership office 

beside the front entrance at Melbourne Zoo. 

2 

ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2009-10 

* Not including invertebrate collection

VISION 

AND MISSION 

Our Vision 

To be the world’s leading zoo-based conservation 

organisation. 

Our Mission 

To galvanise communities to commit to the conservation 

of wildlife and wild places by connecting people and 

wildlife by: 

Opening the door to exceptional wildlife encounters 

that reach beyond the boundaries of our properties 

Leading the way by communicating and demonstrating 

the role of conservation and research in all we do 

Catalysing action through inspiring experiences that 

motivate participation leading to conservation and 

sustainability outcomes.

Becoming the 

world’s leading 

zoo-based 

conservation 

organiSation 

In 2009, Zoos Victoria adopted 

a new strategic direction to 

transform the organisation 

over 20 years into the 

world’s leading zoo-based 

conservation organisation. 

Zoos Victoria is embracing a much larger 

and more active role in conservation. 

We will specialise in the captive holding 

and management of threatened species 

and in influencing behaviour changes 

within communities to support wild 

populations and their habitats. 

To achieve this vision we have identified 

five key action areas: 

01 Conservation 

Our focus will be on wildlife conservation 

and community conservation. We will work 

to conserve threatened species in Australia 

and broad-based habitat conservation 

in our international priority regions, and 

we will harness public action behind our 

conservation effort. 

02 Animals 

We will ensure that every animal in our 

collection has conservation relevance. 

We will strive to be a world leader in animal 

care and wellbeing and actively advocate 

for the conservation of wildlife. 

03 Visitors 

We will provide innovative wildlife 

recreation and learning experiences that 

inspire visitors to take conservation actions 

that make a measurable and positive 

difference. 

04 People 

We will support our staff’s development 

to ensure they and the organisation as a 

whole can transform Zoos Victoria into a 

zoo-based conservation organisation. 

05 Financial Sustainability 

We will ensure the long-term financial 

sustainability of all our operations to 

improve the value of our assets so we 

can deliver an increased investment in 

conservation. 

4 

ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2009-10

Chairman’s 

message 

Becoming a zoo-based conservation 

organisation involves Zoos Victoria living 

up to its conservation and sustainability 

principles across all the myriad aspects of 

zoo operations. 

One year into our 20-year transformation 

this exciting strategic shift has already 

begun to deliver results. From the way 

we select and care for our animals, to 

the exhibits we open, our management 

of the bottom line and our contribution to 

conservation efforts here and abroad. 

Acting locally, Zoos Victoria is expanding 

its capacity to save priority threatened 

species by bolstering recovery programs for 

Tasmanian Devils at Healesville Sanctuary 

where an ‘insurance’ population is being 

established to support the disease plagued 

wild-born animals in Tasmania. 

Healesville Sanctuary is making real strides 

towards saving the Helmeted Honeyeater. 

This year, a third independent colony 

was released back into the wild in a real 

turnaround in the survival saga of Victoria’s 

native bird-emblem. 

Globally our efforts are also bearing fruits 

in Papua New Guinea, South-east Asia 

and Sub-saharan Africa and in 2009-10 we 

extended our international conservation 

effort with an additional two programs. 

Zoos Victoria is putting into action our 

commitment to becoming a true leader and 

Australian authority on captive animals, the 

major facilitator of wildlife knowledge leading 

to broader conservation action. 

Becoming a zoo-based conservation 

organisation is also about inspiring 

people to take action and making it easy 

for individuals to get involved. Our Don’t 

Palm us Off campaign at Melbourne Zoo 

is advocating for the labelling of products 

with palm oil to help save species such 

as the orang-utan and Sumatran Tiger. 

This campaign was a highlight of 2009-10 

with more than 130,000 people signing 

our petition telling us they want palm oil 

labelled on food products. The campaign 

also inspired a Private Members Bill now 

before Federal Parliament advocating for 

this change. 

The Beads for Wildlife program at Werribee 

Open Range Zoo takes beads made by 

women in the Melako Conservancy in Kenya 

and sells them in zoo retail outlets. This has 

earned the women $50,000 in alternative 

revenue so far, reducing their reliance on 

domestic livestock which compete with 

native wildlife for food and water. 

Sustainability extends to our finances and 

we are working hard to build the long-term 

financial sustainability of all our operations 

so we can maintain and improve the value of 

assets and make meaningful investments in 

conservation. 

This financial model focuses on the 

performance of individual business units 

with surpluses invested in conservation, 

staff development and asset renewal. 

Our zoos serve as ‘windows’ to the 

conservation work of the organisation, 

and in this way, as a source of revenue to 

support these vital efforts. 

While our primary objective is conservation, 

we are also keen to build lasting 

relationships with local communities and 

provide opportunities for Indigenous people. 

A major thrust for 2010 will be the launch of 

a Reconciliation Action Plan that will see a 

renewed focus on opportunities to celebrate 

Indigenous culture at all three properties. 

A major focus will be putting into action 

the development plans for our three zoos 

that will deliver even greater conservation 

outcomes that will enable us to be 

recognised as a leading conservation 

organisation. 

We have made important inroads in our 

first year of a 20-year strategy, and will 

keep building on our strong start to be a 

world-leading zoo-based conservation 

organisation. 

Andrew Fairley 

Chairman 

Zoos Victoria Board 

12 August 2010 

ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2009-10 5

CEO’s message 

The 2009-10 financial year is the first full 

year of our new strategic direction that is 

seeing Zoos Victoria play a much larger and 

more active role in conservation. 

We have concentrated on realigning our 

processes, products, operations and 

policies with our vision to become a zoobased 


Our animal collection is now underpinned 

by conservation outcomes and working with 

those species that require our assistance 

to survive. All property developments now 

take account of the conservation value of 

the species on display and facilitate ways to 

create unique experiences that will connect 

people and animals. 

The highlight of the year was a bumper year 

of visitation, with more than 1.7 million people 

attending one of our three properties, a 16% 

increase on last year. Visitors are able to 

experience the wonder of the world’s wildlife, 

see the challenges these animals face in 

the wild and learn what the Zoo is doing for 

conservation and what they can do to help. 

As a zoo-based conservation organisation, 

the more people who visit, the more people 

we are able to inspire to take conservation 

action. Over 2010-11, we were able to grow 

participation of our visitors and the broader 

community in our community conservation 

campaigns, with more than 168,000 people 

taking conservation action, a massive rise 

on the previous year. 

This is a demonstration of the powerful 

benefits of our zoo-based conservation 

model. Our community conservation focus 

is delivering tangible benefits for wildlife 

and their habitats. The Don’t Palm us Off 

campaign has drawn attention to the plight 

of the orang-utan while our new Wild Sea 

exhibit has highlighted the danger plastics 

pose to our marine life. 

People are at the core of our operations and 

we have introduced an innovative training 

and skills program to better equip staff for 

their new roles, as well as an improved staff 

performance and development system. 

We are also changing our business to use 

environmentally sustainable practices such 

as green purchasing, resource efficiency 

and environmental management systems 

to minimise our carbon footprint across the 

three properties. 

Significant progress has been made this 

year to expand and diversify our revenue 

base. New commercial products and 

increased partnerships and sponsors will be 

used to improve the financial sustainability 

of our operations. 

Zoos Victoria strongly believes in the need to 

conserve endangered wildlife and inform and 

empower people to help protect threatened 

species and habitats. The task ahead will 

be to continue to develop the three zoo 

properties in line with these conservation 

goals while ensuring the people of Victoria 

enjoy world-class zoos and can engage with 

the amazing animals that share this planet. 

Looking ahead we aim to improve, expand 

and enhance the infrastructure at each of our 

properties that will ensure our facilities are 

aligned with the vision of being a true zoobased 


We also aim to further grow our visitor 

numbers over 2010-11 and see the number 

of people involved in our conservation 

campaigns increase to 250,000, which 

supports our key thrust of harnessing public 

action behind our conservation effort. By 

2015, we hope to grow annual visitation to 

1.9 million and participation in conservation 

to an ambitious 1.3 million people. 

I would like to thank the Zoos Victoria Board 

under the leadership of Andrew Fairley, 

along with the senior executive team and all 

staff for the wonderful support, commitment 

and contribution over 2009-10. We set 

ourselves an ambitious number of tasks to 

deliver against our new strategic direction 

and the achievements over 2009-10 is 

testimony to the enormous effort by 

everyone involved at Zoos Victoria. 

Jenny Gray 

Chief Executive Officer 

Zoos Victoria 


6 


Major 

Highlights 

for 2009-10 

Visitor Growth 

Thanks to new initiatives, new animals and 

new exhibits, Zoos Victoria achieved more 

than 1.7 million visitors, a 16% increase on 

last year. This growth strengthens Zoos 

Victoria’s capacity to inspire people to take 

conservation action. 

As a not-for-profit organisation, an increase 

in visitation further helps Zoos Victoria in its 

conservation effort and care for animals. 

All revenue generated through a visit helps 

Zoos Victoria to run its world-class zoos 

and deliver conservation projects. 

A Jumbo Joy 

Melbourne Zoo’s Asian Elephant Dokkoon 

gave birth to a bouncing baby girl on 16 

January 2010, weighing in at a remarkable 

110kg. The calf is just the second elephant 

to be born in Australia and the first ever calf 

born in Melbourne Zoo’s 147 year history. 

A public competition held to name the 

calf attracted 36,000 online votes before 

Mali, the Thai name for jasmine, was 

finally chosen. Mali is expected to have 

a playmate this year with another of the 

Zoo’s Asian Elephants, Kulab, due to give 

birth in August or September. 

Our Wild Sea 

Melbourne Zoo’s biggest ever exhibit, 

Wild Sea, opened just before Christmas 

last year. The $20 million exhibit, funded 

by the Victorian Government, features the 

wonders of Victoria’s coast and ocean and 

is the new home for the Zoo’s seals and 

penguins. For the first time, the Zoo can 

display a myriad of other Victorian marine 

wildlife including fish, Port Jackson Sharks 

and Fiddler Rays. The seal and penguin 

pools have state-of-the-art equipment 

to create waves and currents for the 

animals to enjoy. The new penguin pool is 

surrounded by sand dunes that replicate 

the coastal habitat of Port Phillip Bay 

and it is the first time in the Zoo’s history 

that penguins can be viewed swimming 

underwater. 

Dingo Country 

In March 2010, a new Dingo exhibit 

opened at Healesville Sanctuary. The new 

exhibit is home to the Sanctuary’s five 

Dingoes and two new Dingo puppies. It 

includes a rustic alpine hut where visitors 

can hear bushman’s stories, listen to Dingo 

howls and talk to keepers. This has been 

an important new exhibit with the Dingo 

now listed as a threatened species. 

Toddler Tuesdays 

Werribee Open Range Zoo expanded 

its attractions this financial year making 

a pitch for young families to visit during 

the quieter mid-week period. ‘Toddler 

Tuesdays’ offers a host of new activities 

for children aged five years and under. 

Children can be mini Zoo keepers and feed 

the giraffe and meerkats, take a kid-friendly 

safari tour across the savannah or sing, 

dance and play to African-inspired songs 

at the Village Dance Party. 

Year of the Tiger 

Zoos Victoria has celebrated the Year of 

the Tiger with the birth of four Sumatran 

Tiger cubs in February. The cubs – two 

females and two males - are part of the 

international Sumatran Tiger captive 

breeding program and are the only cubs 

born in Australia this year. Sumatran Tigers 

are critically endangered with an estimated 

300 left in the wild, reinforcing the vital 

need for this breeding program. 


Major 

Highlights 

for 2009-10 

Zoos Victoria Awards 2009-10 

Name of program 

& organisation Program objectives What we entered Our results 

2009 SACS / Leadership To highlight and award outstanding Raelene Hobbs – MZ Received commendation 

Victoria – Leadership in leadership potential in the Victorian The Trail of the Elephants team – MZ for Rachel Lowry 

Victorian Government Award public sector Threatened Species unit – HS 

Rachel Lowry – ZV 

Nola Hudson - WORZ 

The Melbourne Awards Promotes innovation and leadership ‘They’re Calling on You’ Won Organisation 

of Melbourne City mobile phone recycling campaign Environment Category 

United Nations Association Promotes leadership in environmental ‘They’re Calling on You’ Special commendation 

of Australia World Environment management and issues particularly mobile phone recycling campaign 

Day Awards – Virgin Blue 

in the Year of Biodiversity 

Business Category – Environment 

Zoos and Aquaria Association Leadership in delivery of education ‘They’re Calling on You’ Joint winner 

– Education Award programs within the industry mobile phone recycling campaign 

Successful Breeding Program 

Zoos Victoria’s captive breeding program 

for native threatened species has 

increased its success by 10 per cent over 

the last year. The Southern Corroboree 

Frog breeding program has continued to 

be successful with 235 eggs spawned, of 

which 49 were viable, resulting in 25 frogs 

growing to adult size. This is a landmark 

achievement in the breeding of the species 

for any zoo anywhere in the world. The 

Zoo is now breeding eighth generation 

hatchlings in its Lord Howe Island Stick 

Insect breeding program, with the total 

population reaching 660 stick insects. 

Twenty-three Eastern Barred Bandicoots 

were also bred at the Zoo and 14 have 

been released back into the environment 

at Mount Rothwell. 

Growth in Membership 

A bigger focus on increasing Zoos Victoria 

Friends of the Zoos membership has 

seen a massive jump in members, with an 

increase of more than 10,000 individual 

members during 2009-10. A marketing 

campaign and the birth of Melbourne Zoo’s 

first ever elephant calf have reinforced 

the value of a Zoos Victoria membership, 

which offers unlimited entry to our three 

zoos every day of the year. As of 30 June 

2010, there are 84,549 Zoos Victoria 

Friends of the Zoos members. 

8 


Financial 

Summary 

Financial Overview 

Our vibrant zoos will continue to contribute 

to Victorian tourism, economic growth, 

education, wildlife conservation, and the 

recreational and social lives of Victorians. 

The Zoos’ revenue is principally admissions 

based (64%). Admission income is highly 

seasonal and particularly vulnerable to 

weather, competition and any economic 

down turn. With the opening of Wild Sea 

and the birth of Melbourne Zoo’s first ever 

elephant calf Mali, Melbourne Zoo visitation 

was 23% better than last year. Healesville 

Sanctuary visitation was down by 9% 

against last year. The region is experiencing 

a slow recovery after the event of the Black 

Saturday Bushfires in 2009. Werribee has 

lost some ground in 2009-10, recording 5% 

decline compared to 2008-09. 

Recurrent expenditure is comprised of high 

fixed costs, linked to the care of animals 

and assets rather than visitor numbers or 

visitor appeal. 

Zoos Victoria requires continuing 

investment in its assets. The Government 

provided $3 million capital grant for 

upgrade of assets and a further $2 million 

for maintenance during the year. The life 

span of most of the assets is 20 to 25 

years. Fifty percent of Melbourne Zoo 

infrastructure is more than 50 years old and 

70% of Healesville Sanctuary infrastructure 

is more than 30 years old. 


Financial 

Summary 

Financial Summary ($ thousands) 

2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 

Recurrent 

Parks and Reserve Trust Fund 1 10,336 13,389 9,313 9,086 10,364 

Revenue Zoo Activities 41,642 38,525 35,372 34,113 30,905 

Total Income 51,978 51,914 44,685 43,199 41,269 

Total Depreciation 6,117 5,499 5,944 4,301 3,583 

Total Operating Expenses 46,121 45,043 38,940 39,353 36,779 

Total Other (30) 246 - - - 

Total Expenses 52,208 50,788 44,884 43,654 40,362 

Net Result for the period (230) 1,126 (199) (455) 907 

Assets, Liabilities and Equity 

Total Assets 226,934 220,586 213,728 182,763 176,970 

Total Liabilities 9,449 10,571 9,043 9,489 10,894 

Total Equity 217,485 210,015 204,685 173,274 166,076 

Capital Contributions 

Capital Grants Received 2 3,000 6,915 10,555 2,000 16,000 

1 The Parks and Reserves Trust Account funding is a rate levied on metropolitan properties under 

the provisions of the Water Industry Act 1994 and is provided to the (Agency) for the purposes of 

conservation, recreation, leisure and tourism within the metropolitan area. 

2 Capital Contribution by State Government is treated as Equity. 

Visitor Numbers 2009-10 (thousands) 

Details Melbourne Healesville Werribee Total 

Zoo General Visitation 1,217 262 284 1,763 

Zoo Activities Visitation 7 1 13 21 

After Hours Catering Function Visitation 42 - 4 46 

Total Visitations 1,266 263 301 1,830 

Admission Charges 

Details 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 

Adult (16 years of age or more) $24.40 $23.60 $23.00 

Child (under 16 years of age) $12.10 $11.80 $11.50 

Physically or intellectually disabled child 

under 16 years of age $6.00 $6.00 $6.00 

Family (a group of 4 persons including up to 2 adults) $55.50 $53.90 $52.40 

Full time student on presentation of proof 

of full time enrolment in secondary school 

or post secondary educational institution $18.50 $17.80 $17.30 

Eligible recipient or eligible beneficiary within the 

meaning of the State Concessions Act 1986 on 

presentation of a current pensioner or Health Care 

Card issued by the Commonwealth Government $18.50 $17.80 $17.30 

10 


Our YEAR IN REVIEW 

The following section outlines our 

key achievements for 2009-10 

and upcoming priorities.

Melbourne 

Zoo 

Melbourne Zoo is a ‘window to the world’ offering visitors a 

chance to see the world’s animals up close and to gain an 

understanding of the way they have interacted with human 

cultures. The Zoo is becoming a conduit for visitors to 

expand their encounter with the natural world and to take 

action for a more sustainable future. 

Visitors 

Total Visitors 2009-10 1,217,000 

Average time spent 

per visit (hours) 3.9 

Animal Collection 

Animal Type Number of Number of 

species specimens 

Fish 11 50 

Amphibian 18 222 

Reptile 72 324 

Bird 89 453 

Mammal 61 265 

Total 251 1314 

Not including invertebrate collection. 

Number of injured/rescued 

animals brought to 

Melbourne Zoo for specialist 

care and rehabilitation. 532 

Melbourne Zoo is Australia’s oldest Zoo 

and staff will celebrate its 148th birthday 

in October. A program to upgrade ageing 

assets is continuing to ensure the Zoo 

remains a premier attraction for visitors from 

Victoria, interstate and overseas. 

Key Achievements 

Birth of Mali the Elephant Calf 

The much-heralded safe arrival of Mali 

the Asian Elephant calf in January piqued 

the interest of the public with thousands 

of people lining up to catch a glimpse of 

her. Introduced to visitors by Premier John 

Brumby and Minister for Environment and 

Climate Change, Gavin Jennings, Mali was 

given her Thai name after a poll of 36,000 

people decreed she should have a name 

that reflects her ancestral origin. A star in 

the making, her baby book detailing key 

milestones sold out its first March print run. 

Mali is an important part of the regional 

breeding program for this endangered 

species. 

Wild Sea Welcomed 

The Zoo’s new Wild Sea Exhibit has 

become one of the most popular 

attractions since opening in December 

2009. Showcasing Victoria’s coastal 

environment, the exhibit includes Australian 

Fur-seals, Australian Little Penguins, 

Fiddler Rays and a host of fish species. 

Visitors have overwhelmingly rated the 

experience positively. Wild Sea was fully 

funded by the Victorian Government. 

New Exhibits 

Several new exhibits and facilities were 

opened in the last financial year including 

a Gorilla Rainforest Learning Centre, the 

front entry Zoo Shop and stage one of the 

Lakeside Plaza Take-away area. 

New Sumatran Tiger Cubs 

Melbourne Zoo’s Sumatran Tigers 

successfully bred four healthy and very 

active cubs. The cubs’ timely arrival during 

the International Year of the Tiger renewed 

focus on conservation efforts to save 

this critically endangered sub-species. 

The cubs, the only ones born in Australia 

last year, are part of the Sumatran Tiger 

international captive breeding program 

and like Mali the baby elephant, they’ve 

captured visitors’ hearts. 

Wildlife Recovery Programs 

Wildlife recovery programs are a central 

part of the Zoo’s mission to breed and 

reintroduce threatened native species back 

into the environment. 

The Zoo has committed to improve the 

success of its captive breeding program 

by 50 per cent by 2014 and achieved its 

initial target goal of increasing its breeding 

success by 10 per cent over the last year. 

The Southern Corroboree Frog breeding 

program has continued to be successful 

with 235 eggs spawned, of which 49 were 

viable, resulting in 25 frogs growing to 

adult size. 

This is a landmark achievement in the 

breeding of the species for any zoo 

anywhere in the world. 

The Zoo is now breeding eighth generation 

hatchlings in its Lord Howe Island Stick 

Insect breeding program, with the total 

population reaching 660. 

Twenty-three Eastern Barred Bandicoots 

were also bred at the Zoo and 14 have 

been released back into the environment at 

Mount Rothwell. 

12 


Priorities for the 

Coming Year 

Elephants Expansion 

A major priority is planning the expansion 

of our Asian Elephant regional breeding 

program. 

Kulab the young female is due to deliver 

her calf in late August or early September. 

Baboon Lookout 

Plans to relocate the Hamadryas Baboon 

troop to a new exhibit within the African 

Bush area of the Zoo are continuing. 

The new Baboon Lookout will see the 

baboon troop moved into a new more 

naturalistic exhibit alongside the giraffes, 

zebras and ostriches. 

The design for the new exhibit is being 

prepared and is on track for public opening 

early in 2011. 

Great Apes 

A young female gorilla was transferred 

from Sydney’s Taronga Zoo to Melbourne 

in April 2010 to support the regional 

breeding program. She was slowly 

introduced to the male Rigo and the family 

group, while Mai the breeding female from 

the orang-utan group is due to give birth in 

November 2010. 

Growing Wild 

Work on the Zoo’s early childhood precinct 

Growing Wild is continuing, with stage 

one expected to be completed in the next 

financial year. Growing Wild will explore 

three zones, ground, water and trees, 

exploring the different ways in which 

animals live. It will provide rich, powerful, 

multi-sensory, experiences that facilitate 

exploration, play and discovery, igniting a 

lifelong passion for wildlife. The focus for 

the next financial year will be to undertake 

the first phase of works, delivering the first 

part of the Ground Zone. 

What Our Visitors Think 

Topic Result Description 

Melbourne Zoo shows a high standard of care for the animals 92% % response for 

good & very good 

The animals at Melbourne Zoo look like they are in a 88% % response for 

natural setting 


It is important to me that Melbourne Zoo is involved in 83% % who agree 

conservation programs 

I am motivated to do more about wildlife conservation 60% % who agree 

I have learnt something I can do to help wildlife conservation 60% % who agree 


Healesville 

Sanctuary 

Healesville Sanctuary provides a rich understanding of 

the Australian bushland, its wildlife, local conservation 

efforts and our Indigenous culture. 

The Sanctuary plays an important role in looking 

after sick or injured wildlife and is at the forefront of 

protecting threatened species through its breeding and 

reintroduction programs. 

Visitors 

Total Visitors 2009-10 262,000 


per visit (hours) 3.6 




Fish 6 13 


Reptile 43 122 

Bird 71 547 

Mammal 31 249 

Total 157 1089 


animals brought to Healesville 

Sanctuary for specialist 


Key achievements 

Dingo Country 

A new exhibit opened inviting visitors to 

enter Dingo Country, a dramatic rocky high 

country exhibit and the new home for our 

dingoes. The experience, which opened 

in March 2010, highlights the threatened 

species of Alpine Dingo, our very own 

famous yellow Aussie dog. 

Visitors come into a rustic Alpine Hut 

(named after retiring staff member Kevin 

Mason) and hear the old bushman’s 

stories, listen to dingoes howl and to 

keepers talk about how this threatened 

species might be the answer to achieving 

ecological balance in the Australian 

landscape. 

Bringing Back Bushland 

One of Healesville’s major ongoing projects 

involves restoring the Coranderrk Bushland 

to a significant Yarra Valley bushland area, 

representative of pre-European settlement. 

A biodiversity management plan and a 

cultural heritage plan have been completed 

and Zoo staff worked with Wurundjeri 

elders to map important Indigenous 

landscape features including scar trees, 

where the bark of trees has been removed 

to make canoes, and surviving parts of the 

old station track. 

New Parrot Breeding Centre 

A new Orange-bellied Parrot breeding 

facility was built with temperature control 

and video surveillance to ensure a higher 

success rate for the breeding program of 

this critically endangered parrot. In the last 

season 32 chicks were bred, the highest 

number in the program’s 20 years. 

Native Wildlife Breeding 

An extra six Tasmanian Devil breeding 

enclosures were built and nine females 

gave birth to 27 joeys this year. There are 

now 34 enclosures with another 26 on 

the way and 75 Tasmanian Devils in total, 

supporting the national mainland insurance 

population program. 

Victoria’s bird emblem, the Helmeted 

Honeyeater, is continuing to thrive at 

Healesville where 35 chicks hatched and 

28 were released back into the wild in the 

Bunyip State Park. 

This year the Platypus breeding season 

produced a male. It is the fifth time 

the Sanctuary has bred Platypus, 

demonstrating the Sanctuary’s continued 

leadership in the husbandry and care of 

this unique species. 

Improving the Visitor Experience 

Yarra Valley regional food is now part of the 

visitor experience to Sanctuary Harvest, 

the Zoo’s catering offering which now has 

an à la carte menu based around local 

produce. 

Major renovation work to the main catering 

facility includes new ovens, windows and 

seating areas that improved visitor flow. 

The surrounding gardens and pathways 

have also been revitalised to improve the 

visitor experience, and the Reptile House 

Picnic Shelter was renovated. 

Farewell to Sanctuary Favourite 

Kevin Mason, Customer Relations 

Manager, retired on 30 June after 50 

years of dedicated service. Kevin’s years 

at Healesville have been celebrated 

many times over including permanent 

recognition in the naming of the Alpine Hut 

‘Mason’s Hut’ at the Dingo Country exhibit. 

Healesville Sanctuary thanks Kevin for his 

enormous contribution over five decades. 

14 



Coming Year 

Complete Enclosures for 

Threatened Species 

Complete 26 breeding enclosures 

and large free-range Tasmanian Devil 

enclosures to ensure the success of the 

breeding program. Develop further frog 

breeding facilities to increase potential 

programs. 

Attract More Visitors 

Develop a visitor driving program by 

reinvigorating the Birds of Prey presentation. 

Improve Facilities and Infrastructure 

Implement the Asset Management Plan to 

improve facilities and infrastructure. Major 

improvements will be the replacement of 

three bridges used for visitor circulation 

around the Sanctuary and upgrades to the 

Reptile Picnic area and toilet facilities. 

Enhancing the Coranderrk 

We will work with Indigenous community 

leaders from the Wurundjeri to further 

develop the Coranderrk native Bushland 

Reserve as part of the biodiversity 

management plan. 



Healesville Sanctuary shows a high standard of care for 95% % response for 

the animals 


The animals at Healesville Sanctuary look like they are 94% % response for 

in a natural setting 


It is important to me that Healesville Sanctuary is involved in 94% % who agree 

conservation programs 




Werribee Open 

Range Zoo 

Werribee Open Range Zoo offers a wide variety of wildlife, 

outdoor adventure and cultural experiences. The Zoo provides 

an open-range setting featuring grassland animals of Africa, 

North America, Asia and Australia. 

It specialises in close-up encounters via a safari bus, walking 

trails or open vehicle tours that allow visitors to feed a giraffe, 

touch a rhino or experience life as a keeper. 

Visitors 

Total Visitors 2009-10 284,000 


per visit (hours) 4 




Fish 3 15 


Reptile 19 53 

Bird 9 58 

Mammal 32 228 

Total 65 372 


animals brought to Werribee 

Open Range Zoo for specialist 



Toddler Tuesdays 

Werribee Open Range Zoo is becoming 

the place to be for young families with the 

introduction of ‘Toddler Tuesdays’. Every 

Tuesday the Zoo offers a host of activities 

for children aged five and under. A safari 

bus tour features puppets, music and lots 

of animal action while the Village Dance 

Party encourages kids to play bongos, 

stamp feet and dance to ‘call animals 

to water’. Children can also be mini Zoo 

keepers having close-up encounters with 

lots of fascinating animals and then go 

behind the scenes to feed the meerkats 

and giraffe. 

WORZ Master Plan 

The Werribee Open Range Zoo master 

plan was completed this year and 

approved by the Zoos Victoria Board. The 

plan was compiled following considerable 

staff input, visitor research, economic 

analysis and design. Detailed planning was 

also completed for the new Gorilla Exhibit 

and the Veterinary Hospital. Planning has 

also progressed for other new features 

including a new safari departure station, 

the children’s playground and a new 

Serval Exhibit. 

Facilities Upgrade 

The Rhino Encounter was redeveloped 

providing a space to facilitate a ‘hands 

on’ experience for visitors. The Wild Dogs 

and Lions Exhibits also received minor 

upgrades including more shade trees and 

improvements to the water-hole and dens. 

A number of minor projects such as shade, 

seating, paths and exhibit fencing have 

been undertaken this year with funding 

from the asset maintenance program. 

Beads for Wildlife 

A community trade campaign Beads 

for Wildlife was launched in November 

2009 which supports the social and 

conservation needs of the Zoo’s sister 

community at the Melako Community 

Conservancy in Kenya. 

The beautiful beadwork created by the 

women in the community has been sold 

in zoo retail outlets, creating an alternative 

income stream for the women and their 

families and reducing reliance on livestock 

in times of severe drought. This in turn 

means reduced competition for food and 

water with native species such as zebra 

and African Elephant, giving them a greater 

chance of survival. More than 10,000 

pieces were sold, with proceeds delivering 

an income stream for the Rendille people 

of Melako and assisting Zoos Victoria with 

its conservation effort. This campaign will 

continue and be a focus in the lead up to 

Christmas 2010. 

Wildlife Security 

Smugglers Beware was launched in June 

2009 encompassing two winter holiday 

programs. The indoor exhibit was a fun, 

educational and interactive experience 

that focused on the widespread and 

destructive wildlife smuggling trade. 

The exhibit featured many exotic and 

endangered animals often involved 

in wildlife smuggling and also many 

prohibited items seized by the Australian 

Customs and Border Protection Service. 

16 


Opening Back of House 

During January 2010, Werribee Open 

Range Zoo ran a summer holiday program 

designed to ‘flatten the peaks’ of the 

Zoo’s busy summer weekends, when 

large visitor numbers strain the Zoo’s 

resources and potentially compromise 

the visitor experience. 

Open House – Back of House was 

designed to encourage mid week visitation 

during January, provide a ‘value add’ 

behind the scenes component for visitors 

and drive up revenue by having visitors pay 

a small additional price ($2 per person) for 

the ‘back of house’ experience. The low 

price high-volume approach enabled 9,072 

people to participate in the experience, 

giving visitors a glimpse of life behind the 

scenes at the Zoo. The program drove a 

shift of 12% from weekend to mid week 

visitation. The event will run again next 

January and build profile as an 

annual event. 


Coming Year 

Gorillas Coming West 

The State Government has provided $1.5 

million for the new Gorilla Exhibit to house 

the bachelor gorillas from Melbourne Zoo. 

The new exhibit will be located on an island 

close to the entrance of the Zoo and is 

expected to open in early 2011. 

New Veterinary Hospital 

A new veterinary hospital is being built at 

Werribee Open Range Zoo to enhance our 

capacity to provide world-class care to our 

animals. The Zoo now has veterinary staff 

on site seven days a week. The new facility 

will include a treatment room, clinical lab, 

pharmacy, necropsy, veterinary offices, 

wards and associated amenities/storage 

areas and is expected to open late 2010. 

Zoo After Dark 

Wild Nights was launched as the winter 

2010 school holiday program trialing the 

concept of a night Zoo. The event allowed 

visitors to observe nocturnal behaviors 

of animals along the main walking 

trail including lions, hippos, monkeys 

and Cheetahs. The event included the 

launch of the Serval presentations and 

was complemented by fire dancers and 

drummers. Visitors also enjoyed the 

opportunity to toast marshmallows and 

discover the magical ‘secret garden’. If 

successful, Wild Nights will become an 

annual winter program. 



Werribee Open Range Zoo shows a high standard 95% % response for 

of care for the animals 


The animals at Werribee Open Range Zoo look like they 96% % response for 

are in a natural setting 


It is important to me that Werribee Open Range Zoo 77% % who agree 

is involved in conservation programs 




Wildlife 

Conservation 

and Science 

Zoos Victoria is ramping up its contribution to 

biodiversity conservation programs as the shift 

towards a zoo-based conservation organisation 

gathers pace. 

Through its Wildlife Conservation and 

Science Department, Zoos Victoria 

supports conservation locally with its 

captive breeding and reintroduction 

programs for threatened Australian animal 

species. The Department also works on 

managing degraded habitat and restoring 

it so that it can support a diversity of 

wildlife once more. 

Globally the Department supports 

biodiversity conservation projects in the 

developing world, bringing the expertise 

of Zoos Victoria personnel to drive critical 

conservation outcomes. 

In the past year the Department worked on 

12 species recovery programs and played 

a lead role in the successful establishment 

of the Tasmanian Devil ‘insurance 

population’ on the mainland. 

Internationally, Zoos Victoria worked in 

Papua New Guinea and expanded its 

support of conservation work in Southeast 

Asia and Southern Africa, helping to 

enhance the viability of entire ecosystems 

and the sustainability of the communities 

who live with them. 

The Department also has strategic 

responsibility for Life Sciences functions, in 

particular the development of policies that 

support Zoos Victoria being world-class 

leaders in animal care and well being. 


More International Projects 

Two new international conservation 

programs have been added to the Zoos 

Victoria portfolio, further bolstering our 

effort to deliver tangible conservation 

outcomes beyond the gates of our zoos. 

The Kinabatangan Conservation Program 

operates across more than 200,000 

hectares of Kinabatangan River floodplain 

in the Malaysian State of Sabah. Operated 

by a local organisation, “Hutan”, the 

program has a rigorous research and 

management program to support 

orang-utan and elephant conservation; 

a suite of other projects to increase 

knowledge and conservation of Sabah’s 

biodiversity through training, research 

and partnerships; reduce humanwildlife 

conflict and enhance community 

engagement through training, employment, 

sustainable livelihoods and ecotourism. 

The Democratic Republic of Congo is 

the focus of a community conservation 

program to create 10 community reserves 

covering an area of approximately 1.2 

million hectares. These will establish a 

habitat corridor between two existing 

national parks (Kahuzi-Biega and Maiko) 

to create a protected area spanning 

1.5 million hectares. A priority is the 

conservation of Eastern Lowland Gorillas, 

as this area encompasses 90 per cent of 

their remaining range. Our partner is the 

Jane Goodall Institute and crucial elements 

of the program include family planning and 

the creation of sustainable livelihoods and 

enterprises for local villagers. 

Papua New Guinea Project 

Expanding 

The Tenkile Conservation Alliance in Papua 

New Guinea has been given a major 

funding boost with grants secured totalling 

$1.5 million for conservation work in the 

Torricelli Mountain Ranges. Funding from 

the European Union, the Future for Nature 

Foundation and the Wildlife Conservation 

Network will go towards achieving the 

project’s long-term goal of creating a 

legally-protected conservation area of 

90,000 hectares to ensure biodiversity is 

safeguarded for future generations. 

The ongoing field research is highlighting 

that wildlife populations are recovering 

from the previous low levels driven by 

human hunting. Analysis of data for treekangaroos 

suggests that the numbers of 

Tenkile or Scott’s Tree-kangaroo, one of 

the program’s flagships, has increased 

by more than 50% since the program 

commenced in 1999. 

Critical to the program’s long-term 

sustainability is building the skills and 

management capacities of the local 

communities. This is a long-term goal 

but is already showing results, with 

all of the monitoring of research sites 

being undertaken by trained villagers, 

implementation of the health and hygiene 

projects by trained local facilitators and 

a local Project Supervisor appointed to 

manage program activities. 

18 


Cambodian Conservation 

Zoos Victoria has provided an additional 

$20,000 to our Cambodian partner, 

Fauna and Flora International, to increase 

protection of the 330,000 hectare Phnom 

Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, which is 

threatened by construction of a new hydroelectric 

dam and reservoir. The funds were 

used to employ additional forest rangers, 

install guard-posts on entry-exit roads and 

monitor activities of construction workers. 

The Sanctuary is located in the Cardamom 

Mountains in Cambodia’s southwest. 

Prior to construction it was already under 

pressure from illegal logging, poaching 

and land-grabbing. Despite three decades 

of conflict, the Cardamom Mountains 

comprise one of the most important sites 

for biodiversity in South-east Asia. 

Stopping the Poachers in Kenya 

Zoos Victoria provided $23,000 to enable 

wildlife scouts to stop elephant poaching 

in the 80,000-hectare Melako Community 

Conservancy in northern Kenya. The 

illegal ivory trade is an increasing threat 

to elephants in Africa and Asia, and 

the Melako scouts play a key role in 

establishing peace and security across the 

Conservancy, enabling wildlife to return. 

As in all our international partnerships, 

community engagement and support 

is critical. In the Melako community, the 

community conservation campaign, Beads 

for Wildlife, was of fundamental importance 

to providing families with alternative 

income to help them get through the 

recent severe drought. It also highlighted 

the potential for this initiative to play a 

broader role in sustaining and benefiting 

entire communities and wildlife over the 

long-term. 

Natives Back on Top 

Healesville Sanctuary has continued 

to successfully breed its ‘insurance 

population’ of Tasmanian Devils, with 

numbers in its breeding program about to 

hit the 120 mark. 

The program aims to successfully breed 

and manage a population of around 100 

Devils for a decade to bolster the stocks 

of wild-born, disease-free animals from 

Tasmania’s west coast. The devils are 

still under threat from extinction from a 

transmissible cancer known as Devil Facial 

Tumour Disease. 

After many years of persistence the 

Helmeted Honeyeater reintroduction 

program is starting to show significant 

signs of success, with the creation of a 

third colony of Helmeted Honeyeaters in 

the wild in 2010. 

Looking After Our Animals 

Zoos Victoria’s Animal Welfare Code 

and Species Selection and Assessment 

Tool have been developed to guide the 

management and composition of our 

animal collections. They ensure animals 

are managed to sustain their health and 

wellbeing and to evaluate the role of each 

species in our collections in the delivery of 


Animal collections at all three zoos are 

currently being reviewed using these tools 

as part of the broader push to become 

a zoo-based conservation organisation. 

Also under review is Zoos Victoria’s role in 

the rehabilitation of injured and displaced 

wildlife, in terms of the welfare and 

conservation benefits to Victoria’s wildlife. 


Coming Year 

Better Resources for Staff 

A keepers’ manual will be developed to act 

as a primary resource for staff, which will 

give insight into the daily animal husbandry 

activities and routines of Zoo keepers. 

More Recovery and Direct 

Conservation Programs 

Zoos Victoria will expand its capacity 

to support priority threatened species 

recovery programs, including amphibians 

and Tasmanian Devils at Healesville 

Sanctuary and Eastern Barred Bandicoots 

at Werribee Open Range Zoo. It will also 

increase the number of staff involved in 

direct conservation programs. 

The number of threatened species needing 

help within Australia continues to rise 

and some of the species we have been 

actively trying to conserve are continuing to 

decline in the wild and now face imminent 

extinction. The likelihood is that some native 

species will only exist in zoos unless Zoos 

Victoria expands its conservation capacity. 

As the organisation continues to move into 

more direct conservation work the demand 

for staff involvement will increase, together 

with the need for staff to acquire different 

skills and expertise. 

Zoos Victoria will develop a Conservation 

and Science Plan to provide the bridging 

rationale between the strategic vision 

and the conservation and research 

program details. This will identify how 

our conservation and research objectives 

are established, and how these and 

our collections management and 

community campaigns are integrated 

to secure conservation outcomes. We 

will also develop specific measures for 

conservation programs in order to evaluate 

biodiversity gain in the wild as a result of 

Zoos Victoria initiatives. 


Visitor AND 

Community 

Development 

Visitor and Community Development works 

across all visitor touch-points including 

special programs, retail and catering, to 

embed opportunities for visitors to connect 

with wildlife, build their understanding of 

species and their habitats and be able to 

follow-up with tangible actions that benefit 

wildlife and ecosystems. 

Visitor and Community Development 

develops key visitor experience, learning 

and community conservation plans 

for implementation across all three 

properties, and brings together the key 

functions of learning strategy, commercial 

development, marketing, communications 

and community conservation. 


Don’t Palm us Off 

Melbourne Zoo’s Don’t Palm us Off 

campaign was launched in August 2009 

and has garnered more than 130,000 

signatures demonstrating community 

support for the mandatory labelling of 

palm oil on all packaged food products 

sold in Australia. 

The campaign aimed to influence policy 

makers to change food-labelling laws 

so that products containing palm oil 

are clearly identified. This will enable 

consumers to make informed choices 

on food purchases creating a greater 

demand for sustainably produced palm 

oil ahead of palm oil sourced through 

production methods that have significant 

environmental and wildlife impacts. 

The petition phase of the campaign closed 

on 1 July 2010. After 1 July Melbourne 

Zoo moved to the next phase of the 

campaign, aiming to use the enormous 

public response as a catalyst to change 

food-labelling laws and drive demand 

for manufacturers to remove or use 

sustainable palm oil in their products. 

Gorillas Call Out 

They’re Calling On You – a mobile phone 

recycling campaign – has encouraged 

thousands of visitors to support gorilla 

conservation in central Africa. The program 

has won the environment category of the 

Melbourne Awards and received a Special 

Commendation in the United Nations 

Association of Australia World Environment 

Day Awards. 

Developed by Zoos Victoria and launched 

at Melbourne Zoo by activist Dr Jane 

Goodall, the program has seen visitors and 

the broader community hand back more 

than 23,000 old mobile phones, which 

have been diverted from landfill. 

Some mobile phones contain a tiny piece 

of metallic ore called coltan mined in 

Africa. Coltan is mined both in and out 

of Africa. The mining of coltan within 

the Congo River Basin is contributing to 

forest loss and unrest in the region and is 

accelerating the loss of mountain gorillas at 

an alarmingly fast rate. 

The campaign has raised $37,000 to 

support in-situ and ex-situ primate 

conservation. Over 100 corporations and 

70 schools are also participating in this 

campaign through the donation of fleet 

phones and collection drives. 

Staying in Touch 

Visitors are staying in touch with Zoos 

Victoria online in increasing numbers 

– with more than 1.7 million visits to the 

website recorded for 2009-10, an increase 

of 42.57% on 2008-09. 

During the year we also took our first 

foray into social media providing a 

more interactive, two-way approach to 

communicating with the community. 

Thousands joined our Zoos Victoria and 

community conservation campaigns 

Facebook pages and downloaded our 

widget and continue to engage with us. 

During 2009-10 the integration of 

memberships under the Zoos Victoria 

umbrella to become Zoos Victoria Friends 

of the Zoos lead to a 10 per cent increase 

in memberships and an improved ability 

to communicate and build an ongoing 

relationship with members. More than 

84,500 people are now Zoos Victoria 

members compared to 72,143 in June 2009. 

Sales on the Up 

The Zoo Twilights Concert series continued 

as a highlight on Melbourne’s calendar 

of events. The concerts were extremely 

popular with 23,464 attending across 

the series despite two evenings being 

cancelled due to extreme storm conditions. 

The sales team achieved $3.2 million in 

ticket sales, with revenue enhanced by 

conducting all ticket selling in-house, 

eliminating fees to external contractors. 

Retail sales at zoo properties were also 

strong, exceeding more than $5.7 million 

with four of our stores all generating in 

excess of $1 million each in sales. 

The healthy bottom line included more 

than $63,000 in sales for Werribee Zoo’s 

Community Conservation campaign - 

Beads for Wildlife which supports our 

in-situ work with the Melako Conservancy 

in Kenya. 

Seal the Loop 

Seal the Loop is a new community 

conservation initiative that was launched 

to coincide with the opening of Melbourne 

Zoo’s Wild Sea exhibit. 

The campaign encourages visitors to 

recycle plastics which are the most 

common litter item found within Australia. 

Melbourne Zoo is often required to provide 

emergency treatment and care to marine 

animals such as seals, that have become 

entangled in discarded plastic. 

Melbourne Zoo’s Seal the Loop initiative 

includes production of special Seal the 

Loop bins made from recycled plastic 

waste that are being placed in selected 

fishing locations making it easier for 

people fishing to discard their fishing line 

responsibly thereby reducing the incidence 

of wildlife entanglements. 

A Fresh and Sustainable 

Catering Approach 

Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range 

Zoo welcomed Liberty Catering as the 

new catering provider following a tender 

process. Liberty will provide a fresh new 

approach to food. The team at Liberty 

joined the zoos in July and will be providing 

seasonal menus using local suppliers and 

environmentally sustainable principles. 

20 


Act4Nature 

To celebrate the International year of 

Biodiversity, Zoos Victoria partnered with 

the Department of Sustainability and 

Environment, Parks Victoria, Melbourne 

Museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens 

to help the Victorian community appreciate 

and understand the importance of 

biodiversity whilst inspiring informed action 

for its protection through the launch or the 

Act4Nature web portal. 

The website has featured a different action 

each month, supported by a special 

calendar for schools that encourages 

action at home and school to address 

threats to nature such as climate change, 

population pressures and increasing 

consumption that is impacting on species 

around the world. 

Six consecutive education awards 

Zoos Victoria won the Zoo and Aquarium 

Association Award for Educational 

Excellence for the sixth successive year 

for the They’re Calling on You learning 

program that was embedded within the 

visitor experience and student learning 

program at Melbourne Zoo. 

Online Learning 

Three new online learning resources were 

developed to bring students closer to 

wildlife and conservation. Zoos Victoria, 

supported by the Department of Education 

and Early Childhood Development, has 

developed innovative digital resources 

for a teaching and learning web portal for 

Victorian schools called FUSE, which were 

launched in July 2010. 

Primate Behaviour Research gives 

students the opportunity to share learning 

across schools locally and internationally 

by researching Melbourne Zoo orangutans 

first hand within the classroom, 

thanks to four real-time web cameras. 

Conservation Mashups offers students 

the opportunity to explore the complex 

issue of palm oil and its threat to wildlife 

and take creative action. Kids can access 

a collection of video clips and images and 

use an online edit tool to ‘mash up’ their 

own video to support the Don’t Palm us 

Off program. The Bushfires and Wildlife 

project sets students the challenge to 

‘improve biodiversity and reduce fire risk 

in their community’ and post a short video 

of their work. Online unique resources 

including video stories of bushfire-affected 

wildlife and access to experts through 

web conferences support schools in their 

challenge and inquiry. 


Coming Year 

New Community 

Conservation Programs 

A new community conservation 

campaign Wipe for Wildlife, delivered 

through Healesville Sanctuary, will be a top 

priority for 2010-11. Launched on Sunday 

4 July 2010, the campaign focuses on 

encouraging people to use recycled 

toilet paper. 

Improved Learning 

Supported by the Department of Education 

and Early Childhood Development, Zoos 

Victoria will extend its reach in online 

learning with the development of the 

Act4Nature Schools Portal. 

Act4Nature Schools Portal will be an 

interactive space that enables students 

to connect to local conservation action 

opportunities, share what they are doing 

to help biodiversity with their peers, take 

on monthly challenges, create and publish 

their own digital stories, access experts for 

support and guidance, and become young 

conservation leaders in their school and 

wider community. 

Securing a Learning Future 

An application to the Department 

of Education and Early Childhood 

Development’s Strategic Partnerships 

Program for funding in the triennium 2012 

-2014 will be a main priority for 2010-11. 

Zoos Victoria’s current Memorandum 

of Understanding with the Department 

expires at the end of 2011, and work will 

take place in the coming year to highlight 

how our programs can support the 

Department in achieving student learning 

outcomes in Victorian schools. 

A Growing Membership 

A major priority will be to further grow Zoos 

Victoria Friends of the Zoos membership 

beyond 100,000. A membership plan will 

be developed to increase awareness of 

zoo membership and enhanced value to 

the growing membership base. A major 

focus will be improved engagement with 

members so that retention rates are 

increased and members experience better 

interaction with their favourite zoo. 

A Commercial Plan That Delivers 

A five-year retail plan will be developed 

that better aligns conservation and 

sustainability to retail operations and 

products, while growing a stable offer of 

commercial products to increase revenue 

that will allow Zoos Victoria to invest further 

in conservation. 


Community 

Inclusiveness 

Zoos Victoria respects the diverse and rich cultures 

of the people of Melbourne and commits to engaging 

people in a variety of ways that honour culture and 

history as well as providing community inclusive 

opportunities. Highlights for 2009-10 are outlined 

below under the following four areas: Cultural Diversity, 

Women, Young People and Indigenous Affairs. 

Cultural Diversity 

Mission Australia Family Day 

Melbourne Zoo, in a community partnership 

with Mission Australia, hosted the Mission 

Australia Family Day on 23 December 2009. 

This event, for the second consecutive year, 

provided the opportunity for more than 

1500 people from socially disadvantaged 

backgrounds to be able to spend the day 

at the Zoo. Many of the participants were 

newly arrived migrants and refugees. The 

event allowed Melbourne Zoo to make 

new connections and provide learning 

opportunities for people who haven’t had 

the opportunity to visit the Zoo before. 

Metlink and V/line collaborated to provide 

free public transport to the event. Families 

travelled from all areas of Melbourne and 

regional centres including Shepparton, 

Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Bairnsdale. 

Learning Experiences 

All three properties ran programs for 2500 

ESL students to develop and enhance 

their understanding and awareness of 

Australia’s unique fauna, whilst learning 

the English language. Another key 

language achievement this year was the 

development of a Language Other than 

English (LOTE) Indonesian student learning 

program, Banyak Binatang, at Melbourne 

Zoo in partnership with a group of Victorian 

Indonesian teachers and the LOTE unit of 

the Department of Education and Early 

Childhood Development. 

Young People 

A Learning Icon 

During 2009-10 168,573 students and 

teachers were involved in learning and 

professional learning programs at all three 

Zoos Victoria properties. Work experience 

programs provided the opportunity for 23 

students to work alongside Zoo staff to 

gain valuable insights into the zoo industry 

and 855 young people participated in 

programs that develop specialist skills and 

promote pathways, such as Keeper for a 

Day and Vet for a Day. 

Helping Bushfire Affected Schools 

In August 2009 Healesville Sanctuary 

hosted three fire-affected primary schools 

- Marysville, Buxton and Taggerty - for a 

morning with special keeper and animal 

experiences. The event was coordinated 

by Victoria Police, which culminated in the 

children going to Healesville Memorial Hall 

to be entertained by Police Bands. 

Access for All 

More school children are accessing the 

zoos as a result of a grant from the Ian 

Potter Foundation (Sewell Fund) that is 

supporting the Access for All program. 

The program finances the cost of 

disadvantaged schools which have not 

been able to access the Zoo or otherwise 

may not be able to afford to make a 

trip to one of the three zoos. Over 2010 

16 schools and 939 students will be 

supported with transport and entry costs to 

visit a Zoo property for a learning program. 

22 


A Helping Hand 

Zoos Victoria entered into a community 

partnership with the Victorian Youth 

Mentoring Alliance to provide opportunities 

for disadvantaged youth. Melbourne Zoo 

hosted the Youth Mentoring Summit on 15 

August 2009. Zoos Victoria provided 1500 

complimentary passes to the Victorian 

Youth Mentoring Alliance in support of 

Youth Mentoring Week, which provided 

the opportunity for mentors to bring their 

young matches to any of the three zoos for 

an informal, bonding experience. 

Melbourne Zoo also provides a number 

of free tickets to the Royal Children’s 

Hospital, who offer these to families of 

patients in their care. 

Women 

All three zoos pride themselves on being 

family friendly venues. Our Zoos Victoria 

Friends of the Zoos Memberships offer 

year round unlimited entry to our three 

great zoos. Memberships are affordable 

and are very popular with young families, 

particularly stay-at-home mums. 

Zoos Victoria has a strong representation 

of women in the workforce. Women 

comprise 59% of Zoos Victoria’s staffing 

including 44% of Zoos Victoria’s senior 

executive including the CEO. Zoos Victoria 

has also increased the availability of parttime 

work across all disciplines in 

response to employees with family and 

lifestyle demands. 

Indigenous Affairs 

Zoos Victoria, in partnership with 

Reconciliation Australia, is currently 

developing a Reconciliation Action 

Plan (RAP). While Zoos Victoria has 

undertaken a number of Indigenous 

initiatives, developing a RAP provides a 

formal and public commitment to ongoing 

reconciliation action. 

By developing a Reconciliation Action 

Plan, Zoos Victoria can play a part in the 

national effort to close the unacceptable 

life expectancy gap between Aboriginal 

and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the 

wider Australian community. 

The Reconciliation Action Plan will focus 

on three key areas: 

+ Respect 

+ Relationships 

+ Opportunities. 

An internal working group has been 

established and separate workshop 

sessions have been held at each 

property to scope ideas. A number of key 

stakeholders have also been engaged 

including Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, 

Tourism Victoria, the Koori Business 

Network, the Victorian Indigenous Youth 

Advisory Council along with traditional 

owner groups, who will continue to be 

engaged as the plan develops. 

During 2009-10, a number of meetings 

were held with the Wurundjeri Tribal Land 

Compensation and Cultural Heritage 

Council to engage traditional owners on 

our Reconciliation Action Plan. A meeting 

request has also been made to the 

Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation, the 

traditional owners of land on the western 

side of the Werribee River. 

Other key Indigenous actions over 

2009-10 include: 

+ Healesville Sanctuary hosted a visit by 

some 20 Wurundjeri elders and staff 

on 18 May 2010. A tour of the Dingo 

Country exhibit, a Platypus encounter, 

along with a tour of the Coranderrk 

bushland and Birds of Prey presentation 

was well received by the Wurundjeri and 

provided the opportunity to discuss our 

RAP process 

+ Discussions are currently underway 

to have Wurundjeri Art and Craft on 

sale in the Sanctuary’s retail store. 

Selected items have been identified 

with the Wurundjeri presenting a formal 

submission during the 18 May visit. 

This opportunity will be further scoped 

during 2010-11 

+ A biodiversity management plan for the 

Coranderrk bushland and a cultural 

heritage plan have been completed. Zoo 

staff worked have with Wurundjeri elders 

to map important Indigenous landscape 

features including scar trees, where the 

bark of trees has been removed to make 

canoes, and surviving parts of the old 

station track. Healesville Sanctuary will 

work with Indigenous community leaders 

from the Wurundjeri to further develop the 

Coranderrk Bushland Reserve as part of 

the biodiversity management plan. 



Foundation 

The Zoos Victoria Foundation has the 

responsibility of raising funds to ensure 

Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and 

Werribee Open Range Zoo are the world’s best 

zoo-based conservation organisations. 

The Foundation helps Zoos Victoria 

achieve its vision to save wildlife and wild 

places by fostering community concern for 

wildlife, providing engaging experiences 

with animals and supporting local and 

international conservation programs. 

In 2009-10, the Foundation raised $1.56 

million to support our major projects and 

conservation programs. 


Supporting Zoo Exhibits 

The Foundation raised funds for critical 

projects across the three zoo properties. 

These included a new Gorilla Exhibit and 

veterinary hospital at Werribee Open 

Range Zoo; a new Baboon Exhibit at 

Melbourne Zoo; and providing support for 

the Tasmanian Devil breeding facility and 

redevelopment of the Coranderrk Bushland 

Reserve at Healesville Sanctuary. 

Amphibian Complex 

The Foundation secured grants from the 

Youngman Trust and Zoo and Aquarium 

Association to construct a new exhibit 

for threatened native frogs such as the 

Corroboree Frog to assist with 

breeding programs. 

Access for All 

A grant from the Ian Potter Foundation 

(Sewell Fund) has enabled Zoos Victoria’s 

Learning Department to offer free Zoo 

entry and bus hire costs for disadvantaged 

schools in Victoria. 

Vet Seal Pool 

Melbourne Zoo cares for many injured 

marine mammals and birds from Port 

Phillip Bay. A grant from the Lord Mayor’s 

Charitable Foundation meant that we were 

able to upgrade our veterinary seal pool to 

cater for the high demand of marine life we 

treat every year. 

New Aviaries 

The Merrin Foundation has continued its 

strong support for Healesville Sanctuary’s 

threatened species programs enabling us 

to purchase new release-aviaries for the 

Helmeted Honeyeater. 

Devils Video Surveillance 

The Foundation secured grants from the 

Ian Potter Foundation and Youngman 

Trust to purchase new video surveillance 

cameras to monitor the breeding habits of 

Tasmanian Devils. In 2009, 27 devil ‘pups’ 

were born as part of the program. 

Corporate Partners 

The Foundation received support from a 

number of ongoing and new corporate 

partners to support conservation 

campaigns and priority projects for 

each property. A full list of our corporate 

supporters can be found in the partners 

and supporters section. 

Strong Support 

We received strong and continued support 

from our passionate supporters through 

general donations, animal adoptions and 

bequests. Overall during the year, the 

Foundation received five bequests totalling 

$190,370 and 802 individual donations 

totalling $931,050. The Animal Adoptions 

program had 1343 donors, which 

totalled $182,301. 

24 


2009-10 Foundation Results 

The Foundation set an ambitious target of 

$2.25m for 2009-10, up $500,000 from the 

previous financial year. 

Unfortunately this was not achieved due 

to a significant drop in Bequests (down 

$701,044 from 2008-09) and also in 

general donations and Animal Adoptions. 

However, our performance in Corporate 

Partnerships, Major Gifts and Trusts and 

Foundations remained strong. 

To achieve our 2010-11 target of $2.75 

million we will be implementing a formal 

Bequest program, commencing a direct 

mail program and working to promote 

Zoos Victoria’s need for support from 

the community. 

Zoos Victoria Donor Results 

Target $2.25 million 

Result $1.5 million 


Coming Year 

In the coming year, the Foundation will be 

engaging with Zoos Victoria’s 1.7 million 

annual visitors to make donations or adopt 

an animal to support the three zoos. We 

will also launch a capital philanthropy 

campaign to build relationships and secure 

funding from Trusts and Foundations, 

corporations, Government and individual 

donors for the upcoming 150th anniversary 

of Melbourne Zoo. 

The Foundation aims to raise $2.75 

million in 2010-11 to assist Zoos Victoria 

become a leading zoo-based conservation 

organisation. 

Foundation Board 

The Zoos Victoria Foundation has 

an Advisory Board with Membership 

as follows: 

Chair 

Sid Myer 

Members 

Rika Warbanoff 

Andrew Vizard 

Andrew Darbyshire 

(appointed December 09) 

Alex Waislitz (appointed May 10) 

Nicholas Whitby (appointed May 10) 

Ian Hicks (appointed May 10) 

Irene Irvine (appointed June 09) 

Steven Munchenberg (resigned Jan 10) 

Janet Whiting (resigned May 10) 

Tina McMeckan (resigned May 10) 


Our Sustainable 

Operations 

Zoos Victoria’s three properties house many 

animals facing extinction in the wild because 

of human activity. 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions 

from Source 2009-10Net 

emissions = 8035.15 tonnes CO2e 

The effects of climate change, prolonged 

drought and an increase in the intensity of 

bushfires has resulted in a loss of flora and 

fauna, with diminished recovery rates. 

For example, our own Mountain Pygmypossum 

and Southern Corroborree Frog, 

which live in the mountainous regions of 

Victoria and New South Wales, are facing a 

significant loss of habitat making it difficult 

to release captive bred individuals back 

into the wild. 

Globally, more than 700 million visitors 

pass through the gates of zoos and 

aquariums each year, providing a unique 

opportunity to connect with people on 

climate change issues. 

Zoos Victoria aims to provide up-to-date 

information on environmental issues and 

present this in a way that engages people 

and encourages them to take 

conservation action. 

Our three zoos are working to become 

models of environmental sustainability, 

however, they face many challenges. 

While zoos play an important role in 

demonstrating the effects of climate 

change on wildlife, they also require high 

levels of resources to maintain them. 

Our zoos are mini communities with 

animal exhibits, gardens, veterinary 

hospitals, education centres and offices 

that all require heating and cooling, water 

and power and waste management. We 

need to build environmentally sustainable 

practices across all operations of our three 

zoos and reduce our carbon footprint as 

much as possible. 

We are committed to: 

+ Being carbon neutral by 2012 

+ A green procurement program 

+ Greater resource efficiency 

+ An Environmental Management System 

+ Training and support for staff in 

sustainability practices at home 

and work 

+ Inspiring people to take conservation 

action. 


Green Policies and Practices 

Zoos Victoria has implemented a wide 

range of environmental policies and 

practices, including our first version of 

an Environmental Management System 

structure and manual, a green procurement 

policy and the Waste Not organic waste 

recycling campaign for staff. A detailed 

energy audit of our three zoos has led to 

the Switch Off campaign to improve 

energy efficiency. 

Our skills program, Skill Up Green 

– Zoos Today, is training our staff in 

environmentally sustainable practices so 

they can become leaders in conservation. 

We have also developed an environmental 

sustainability section in the species 

selection criteria and we are improving on 

our environmentally sustainable guidelines 

for new and existing developments. 

Resource Efficiency 

Zoos Victoria has introduced a number 

of resource efficiency programs including 

the retrofitting of the Melbourne Zoo retail 

shops with energy efficient lighting, which 

has reduced power demand from 16 to 4 

kilowatts. The Zoo has also trialed infrared 

heating for animal exhibits resulting in 

a decrease in use of electricity and a 

massive 60 per cent saving in greenhouse 

gas emissions. The commencement of a 

trial of silver water treatment for the Pygmy 

Hippo Exhibit is anticipated to reduce 

water and energy use. 

Renewable Energy 

We continue to increase our energy from 

renewable energy sources. We currently 

purchase 15% accredited Green Power. 

A 4kW solar electricity system was 

installed at Melbourne Zoo to power all 

the lighting requirements of the main 

retail shop. Heat pump hot water systems 

have been installed at Melbourne Zoo, 

Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville 

Sanctuary with 12, 18 and 15 units installed 

respectively. They will result in lower 

energy and greenhouse gas emissions in 

delivering hot water. 

26 


Water Conservation 

Zoos Victoria is leading the way in water 

conservation for large landscapes. Werribee 

Open Range Zoo has increased its capacity 

to harvest rainwater with two additional 

water tanks of 125,000 litres and 131,000 

litres to collect rainwater or store recycled 

water. The construction of a bus depot 

was also designed with a large flat roof to 

collect rainwater to use for washing the 

Zoo’s buses. All the property’s irrigation 

water is still supplied by recycled grey water. 

Healesville Sanctuary also switched from 

using town water for irrigation to using water 

from Lake Coranderrk. 

Melbourne Zoo continues to look for 

innovative water recycling solutions. The 

addition of several wetlands including a 

floating island wetland will improve the 

quality of a number of water bodies. 

Carbon Neutral Events 

We are working hard to ensure key events 

at the three zoos are carbon neutral. 

In 2009-10 Zoo Twilights, the Roar 

Sounds concerts, the Zoo and Aquarium 

Association Conference 2010 and several 

teacher professional development 

conferences were carbon neutral events. 

We are looking at other ways to mitigate 

carbon impacts to ensure more of our 

events can be carbon neutral. 


Coming Year 

Green Skills 

Zoos Victoria will continue to expand the 

Skill Up Green program to train all staff 

in sustainable practices. We will also 

implement three staff resource efficiency 

programs to reduce our carbon impacts by 

10 per cent from the 2006-07 base-line. 

Bio-sequestration Program 

A bio-sequestration program will be 

developed to negate the effects of our 

carbon emissions. This will include 

ongoing revegetation work that has already 

resulted in 1000 trees planted at Werribee 

Open Range Zoo. 

Environmental Management 

System 

After officially launching our Environmental 

Management System (EMS) in July 

2010, we aim to continuously improve 

our environmental performance through 

environmental programs developed and 

identified through this EMS. 

Our Environmental Performance 

Below is the monitoring result of our environmental consumption indicators. 

Our baseline year is the 2006-07 financial year. 

Resource 2009-10 2008-09 2007-08 2006-07 % change 

fr 2006-07 

Electricity 1 2 (MJ) 20,226,916 17,435,198 17,177,496 17,207,650 18% 

Green Electricity 1 2 (MJ) 2,247,435 1,400,071 904,079 905,666 148% 

Natural Gas 2 (MJ) 13,591,946 12,036,747 12,484,431 12,497,993 9% 

LPG 3 (MJ) 186,135 452,401 412,696 634,055 -71% 

Waste to Landfill 4 (Tonnes) 776 519 291 500 55% 

Recycling Rate 4 (%) 56% 63% 78% 72% -22% 

Potable Water 5 (KL) 187,291 164,778 161,080 198,180 -5% 

Recycled Water 4 (K) 193,800 175,187 139,092 117,000 66% 

Total Greenhouse Gas 9,384 8,291 7,602 8,024 17% 

Emissions 6 (Tonnes CO2e) 

Notes: 

1 Increased electricity consumption due to commissioning 

of Wild Sea at Melbourne Zoo (16%), and increased back 

of house animal husbandry activities and increased public 

visitation numbers (2%). 

2 Overall energy consumption has increased slightly apart 

from LPG due to increased development and activities 

across the three campuses. 

3 Decrease in LPG consumption was attributed to 

Healesville’s installation of the efficient electric heat pump 

hot water system in replacement of the LPG hot water 

systems, and Werribee Open Range Zoo’s efficient animal 

husbandry management resulting in reductions of LGP 

for heating. 

4 Waste to landfill has increased due to increased visitation 

numbers. This has a proportional effect on our recycling 

rate. 

5 Potable water remains below the baseline year but there 

was a slight increase from last year. This is again due 

to the increased activities across the three campuses. 

Recycled water continues to be used at Melbourne Zoo 

and Werribee Open Range Zoo in replacement of 

potable water. 

6 Greenhouse gas emissions has risen in proportion to 

the commissioning of Wild Sea at Melbourne Zoo and 

the increased activities across the three campuses. 

Our greenhouse gas inventory includes emissions from 

Scope 1,2 and 3 sources from vehicle fuels, purchased 

electricity, natural gas, LP gas and emissions from waste 

to landfill. 


Our People 

Zoos Victoria supports the planning and delivery 

of quality professional development for all staff 

as we move towards becoming a world leading 

zoo-based conservation organisation. 

This year we have been busy implementing 

staff development programs that align 

with our new strategic direction. From 

leadership development for our senior 

executives to improving the environmental 

skills of all staff, we are investing in 

developing well-qualified and confident 

staff that derive personal satisfaction from 

their work at our three zoos. 

In 2009-10 we have implemented 

meaningful performance plans and new 

human resource policies that can be 

accessed on-line by all staff. 

At Zoos Victoria our animals might take 

centre stage but behind the scenes our 

staff are the most important asset. We 

introduced free health checks and other 

wellbeing programs and our professional 

staff are improving their skills and work 

practices so we can provide the best 

animal husbandry possible and deliver 



Introduction of eZEPP 

Zoos Victoria has successfully implemented 

a new electronic employee performance 

plan for all staff. The electronic Zoo 

Employee Performance Plan – eZEPP - links 

key performance objectives of all staff to the 

Corporate Plan. The program also includes 

a powerful organisational development tool 

that guides career planning and ensures it is 

aligned to the values of the organisation. 

Green Skills 

In partnership with the Victorian 

Government, we have developed the 

Skill Up Green program to improve the 

environmental sustainability skills of zoo 

staff. The program initially assesses 

the existing level of skills of staff then 

establishes learning and development 

programs to bridge skills gaps. A 

competency program has now been 

established for all life sciences including 

animal husbandry, wildlife conservation 

and science and veterinary science. 

HR ‘toolkit’ 

This year, we have revised all significant 

Human Resources policies. These have 

been incorporated into a reference guide 

titled ‘Zoos Victoria Human Resources 

Toolkit’ that is available to all staff online. 

Leadership Program 

Zoos Victoria has introduced a 

comprehensive leadership development 

program for its senior executive team. 

The program titled ‘Leading Zoos 

Victoria’s Transformation’ covers a 

number of topics relating to three key 

areas; team development, leadership and 

organisational culture. Its aim is to build 

knowledge of the entire team based on 

latest research, and to develop highly 

practical job and people skills. 

Our Workforce Profile 

Employment As at 30/06/09 As at 30/06/10 

Statistics Numbers % Numbers % 

Employees 564 579 

Male 230 40.8 236 40.8 

Female 334 59.2 343 59.2 

Casual 192 190 

Male 61 31.8 60 31.6 

Female 131 68.2 130 68.4 

Full-time 288 292 

Male 154 53.5 159 54.5 

Female 134 46.5 133 45.5 

Part-time 84 90 

Male 15 17.9 17 19.0 

Female 69 82.1 73 81.0 

FTE Full-time & Part-time 338 339 

FTE Casual 42 48.5 

Indigenous Employees 4 5 

Executive Officers 9 9 

Senior Managers 35 37 

28 


Staff Agreement 

A new Salaried Staff Agreement covering 

300 employees was negotiated this 

year. The agreement provides mutual 

benefits for both employer and employee 

through improved pay and conditions and 

productivity gain. 

Wellness Week 

A new program was introduced to help 

improve the overall health and wellbeing 

of zoo staff. Wellness Week included 

a range of initiatives such as voluntary 

health checks for all staff and professional 

health advice on how to stay healthy in the 

workplace and at home. 

Performance Snapshot 

Staff turnover for 2009-10 remained 

stable at 7.5%. Absenteeism through sick 

and carers leave averaged 47 hours per 

employee (full-time equivalent) for 2009-10. 

This compares with public sector average 

of 48.5 hours per employee. 

Accessibility Action Plan 

Zoos Victoria’s Accessibility Action Plan 

2009-12 (AAP) has been completed and 

is being implemented across the three 

properties. Zoos Victoria sees the AAP as a 

critical part of our commitment to people of 

all abilities to access our services, facilities, 

and programs across our three sites. 

This action plan requires Zoos Victoria to 

improve access to existing facilities and 

services, and promote inclusiveness of 

people living with disabilities. The action 

plan incorporates the principle of ‘universal 

accessibility’ in the planning of all site 

developments in accordance with the 

Disability Discrimination Act 1992, and the 

Disability Act 2006. Each property has 

established a reference group where our 

committed actions are monitored 

and reviewed. 

Throughout the planning and 

implementation process we consulted 

and established positive relationships 

with a number of disability agencies to 

add value and enrich our goals. In raising 

awareness and ensuring we build a culture 

within Zoos Victoria where accessibility 

needs are part of our every-day decisionmaking 

process within our staff and 

management team, we will be delivering 

disability awareness training across 

our properties over 2010-11 and will 

celebrate International Day of Persons with 

Disabilities on the 3 December 2010. 

Equal Opportunity 

Women comprise 59% of Zoos Victoria’s 

staff including 44% of Zoos Victoria’s 

senior executive including the CEO. Zoos 

Victoria has also increased the availability 

of part-time work across all disciplines in 

response to employees with family and 

lifestyle demands. 

Recruitment and internal promotions are 

based on merit and equity principles in 

compliance with the Public Administration 

Act 2004. 

Presently, Zoos Victoria is formulating 

a Reconciliation Action Plan to provide 

a range of opportunities for Indigenous 

employment and engagement. As part of 

the Reconciliation Action Plan clear targets 

for Indigenous employment initiatives and 

staffing levels will be set, that will support 

the Victorian Aboriginal Public Sector 

Employment and Career Development 

Action Plan 2010-15. Zoos Victoria has 

a long association with the Indigenous 

community, and continues to work 

towards improving outcomes for 

Indigenous employment. 

Healesville Sanctuary has an Indigenous 

trainee program in place with an additional 

trainee now working in the wildlife hospital. 

A total of three Indigenous employees now 

work at the Sanctuary. 


Our People 

Occupational Health and Safety 

Zoos Victoria has a vision of zero harm 

and zero injuries. A new Health and Safety 

Strategy and Operational Plan to obtain 

this goal has been developed at the end of 

the 2009-10 financial year in readiness for 

further advancements in health and safety 

practices for 2010-11. 

The last 12 months has had a net result 

of 12 lost time injuries (LTIs), a target of 0 

LTIs has been stated as an objective by 

2015. A new strategy focusing on safety 

behaviours, practices and accountability at 

all levels will work towards achieving 

this objective. 

A variety of internal and external health 

and safety training initiatives have been 

completed over the course of the last 

year, with an emphasis placed on animal 

management and manual handling training 

which addresses the greatest risk and 

rates of incidents. Over 170 employees 

have participated in various forms of health 

and safety training throughout 2009-10. 

Zoos Victoria has a solid Occupational 

Health and Safety framework in place 

across all three properties but continues to 

strive towards a reduction in the incidence 

of injuries by reviewing and improving our 

Health and Safety management and 

looking at opportunities to reduce our 

risk exposure. 

Each property has an active Health and 

Safety Committee that meets regularly and 

reports back to the senior executive at a 

property and Board level. 

Consistent improvements in safety 

practices and injury management have 

made a significant cost-saving contribution 

to the organisation with a reduction in our 

Workcover premium rate. 


Coming Year 

Training Programs 

Zoos Victoria is continuing the 

establishment of its training and 

development programs to ensure staff 

continue to improve their skills and keep 

up to date with the latest environmental 

practices. The new programs will 

be targeted to fill skill gaps identified 

through the Skill Up Green program 

and assessment of the life sciences 

competency matrix. 

Invigorate OHS Programs 

Over the coming year we will strengthen 

our Occupational Health and Safety 

programs through the engagement of staff 

in leadership positions. We will continue to 

strive towards a reduction of injuries with 

an aim to reduce lost-time injury incidents 

to zero. 

Development of a Single 

Enterprise Agreement 

In the coming year we will test the 

feasibility of developing a single enterprise 

agreement for all staff. The new agreement 

would provide better pay and conditions 

for staff while delivering greater workplace 

flexibility and productivity improvements. 

30 


Ted McNamara 

Director Human 

Resources 

Senior HR Advisor 

HR Advisor - OH&S 

HR Advisor - 

Organisational 

Development 

HR Advisor - 

Talent Acquisition 

HR Advisor - 

Operations & Payroll 

Lawrence Tai 

Chief Financial 

Officer 

IT Manager 

Finance Manager 

GM Assets 

Business Analyst 

Graeme Gillespie 

Director Wildlife 

Conservation 

and Science 

Sustainability Manager 

Life Sciences Strategic 

Projects Manager 

Conservation 

Partnership Manager 

Senior Scientist 

Support Officer 

Katie Pahlow 

Director Visitor 

and Community 

Development 

GM Community 

Conservation 

GM Commercial 

Development 

GM Communications 

GM Learning Strategy 

Jenny Gray 

Chief Executive 

Officer 

Pamela 

Sutton-Legaud 

Director 


Foundation 

Relationships 

Manager 

Philanthropy Manger 

Philanthropy Executive 

Grants Communication 

Manager 

Kevin Tanner 

Director 

Melbourne Zoo 

Senior Vet 

GM Operations 

General Curator 

GM Visitor Experience 


Manager 

Retail Business 

Manager 

Communications 

Manager 

GM Works 

ZOOS VICTORIA 

ORGANISATIONAL 

CHART 

Sally Lewis 

Director Werribee 

Open Range Zoo 

John Gibbons 

Director Healesville 

Sanctuary 

Curator of Horticulture 

Senior Vet 

Curator of Animals 

Habitat Manager 

Visitor Experience 

Operations Manager 

Curator of Life 

Sciences 

Senior Operations 

Manager 

Visitor Experience 

Manager 

Visitor Development 

and Learning Manager 


Manager 

Strategic Development 

Manager 

Retail Store Manager 

Communications 

Manager 

Works Manager 

ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2009-10 

31

CORPORATE PLAN 

Key Performance 

Indicators 2009-10 

Action Area Measure Performance 2008-09 2009-10 Result 

Indicator Base Target 

Conservation Number of recovery programs Number of programs 10 11 11 

Conservation Number of threatened species bred Number of progeny 124 136 220 

(+ 1375 Lord Howe 

Island Stick Insects) 

Animals Alignment of the collection with New collection planning - - Achieved 

conservation objectives 

tool in place 

Animals High standards of animal care Animal Management - - Achieved 

Manual completed 

Visitors Total admission numbers (’000) Number (’000) 1,460 1,604 1,758 

Visitors Quality of visitor experience Net promoter rating % 43% 45% 49% 

Visitors Number of school visitors (‘000) Number (‘000) 148 156 168 

Visitors Community conservation Number (‘000) 5 10 168 

– number of people influenced to take 

conservation action 

Visitors Number of environmental behaviour Number of campaigns - 3 4 

change campaigns 

People Staff climate survey conducted Plan of action on results - - Achieved 

– benchmark established and results devised and implemented 

aligned with our vision and professional 

development needs 

People Development of electronic System established - All staff 95% full time 

performance management system and implemented participate and part time 

staff participate 

People HR processes and policies revised and Completion of HR manual - All policies 

updated to deliver on core directions published Achieved 

Financial Paid Admission 1 Number (‘000) 1,113 1,194 1,257 

Sustainability 

Financial Total Admissions Revenue 2 ($M) $20.7 $23.7 $25.2 


Financial Total Net Contribution from ($M) $3.1 $3.0 $3.7 

Sustainability Commercial Activities 

Financial Total Operating Revenue excl Govt Grant 3 ($M) $26.7 $28.2 $33.2 


Financial Total Operating Expenditure excl. ($M) $33.7 $34.3 $35.8 

Sustainability asset renewal 4 

Financial Asset maintenance ($M) $2.4 $2.3 $5.5 


Financial Gross Contribution from fundraising ($M) $1.5 $2.2 $1.5 


1 Includes Twilights but not other zoo activities. 

2 Includes Zoo membership. 

3 Operating Revenue includes net contribution from commercial activities. e.g. cost of operating the commercial activities were deducted from the gross revenue. 

4 Operating expenses relates to expenditure for zoo operations only. Operating expenditure for commercial activities are deducted from the gross revenue and 

the net result of the activities are included in operating revenue. 

32 


CORPORATE 

GOVERNANCE AND 

OTHER DISCLOSURE 

Manner of Establishment and 

Responsible Minister 

The Zoological Parks and Gardens Board 

is the governing body of Victoria’s three 

great zoos: Melbourne Zoo, Healesville 

Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo. 

Set up in 1973 as a Statutory Authority, 

the Board’s role is to protect and promote 

the zoos and their roles in conservation, 

research and education. 

The Board is appointed by the Victorian 

Minister for Environment and Climate 

Change, the Hon. Gavin Jennings. 

Our Patron: The Governor of Victoria, 

Professor David de Kretser, A.C. 

Our Minister: The Hon. Gavin Jennings 

MLC, Minister for Environment and 

Climate Change. 

The Zoological Parks & Gardens 

Act 1995 

The Zoological Parks & Gardens Board 

(ZPGB) operates under the Zoological 

Parks and Gardens Act 1995 and has 

responsibility for the Royal Melbourne 

Zoological Gardens, Healesville Sanctuary 

and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Zoos 

Victoria is the trading name for the 

organisation managed by the Board. 

Objectives and Functions of the Board as 

set out in the Act, are: 

+ To conserve, protect, manage and 

improve the zoological parks and 

managed land and the zoological 

collections 

+ To promote and increase public 

enjoyment of the zoological collections 

and the zoological parks and 

managed land 

+ To increase public knowledge and 

awareness of the zoological collections 

and the zoological parks through 

exhibition of the zoological collections, 

publications, educational programs, 

advisory services and other activities 

+ To carry out and promote zoological 

research, the conservation of wildlife and 

its natural habitats and the maintenance 

of biodiversity 

+ To advise the Minister of matters relating 

to the Board’s functions and powers or 

on any other matter referred to by the 

Minister 

+ To provide consultancy and advice 

services to the public on zoological 

matters 

+ To provide services and facilities for 

visitors to the zoological parks and 

managed land 

+ To carry out any other functions 

conferred on it by this or any other Act. 

Duties reserved for the Board include: 

+ Approval of the strategic direction 

and vision 

+ Setting appropriate Board policies 

providing strategic, ethical and 

operational guidance 

+ Approval of annual and corporate plans 

+ Approval of annual financial reports 

+ Reviewing risks, governance and 

internal controls 

+ Reporting to the Minister. 

Board Members No. Meetings No. Meetings Appointed 

Eligible to Attend Attended 

Andrew Fairley 7 7 Appointed Chair 

17/4/07 

Gaye Hamilton 7 7 Appointed 17/4/07 

Pru Sanderson 7 3 Reappointed 21/5/08 

Nick Whitby 7 5 Reappointed 21/5/08 

Kimberley Dripps 7 6 Appointed 30/4/08 

Dr Kenneth Hinchcliff 7 6 Appointed 21/5/08 

Mary Gillett 7 5 Appointed 21/5/08 

Dr Irene Irvine 7 6 Appointed 21/5/08 

Helen Thornton 2 2 Appointed March 2010 


Board 

Profiles 

Mr Andrew Fairley 

LLB FAICD 

Chair 

Andrew Fairley was appointed to the 

Board as Chair in April 2007. He came to 

the Board with more than two decades 

experience in the sustainable tourism 

sector. Andrew is an equity lawyer with 

DLA Phillips Fox and has in excess of 30 

years experience in the specialist field of 

superannuation and trusts. 

He is Chair of Equipsuper Superannuation 

Fund, and a member of the Deakin 

Investment Advisory Committee. He is 

also a Director of a number of private client 

family enterprises. 

He chairs the Sir Andrew Fairley Foundation. 

Dr Irene Irvine 

Bsc, PhD, DipEd, GradDip Admin 

Irene Irvine was appointed to the Board 

as Deputy Chair in April 2008. Irene has 

extensive experience in the education 

sector, holding a number of senior 

executive appointments. Dr Irene Irvine 

is Chair of Phillip Island Nature Park. She 

is also on the Boards of State Trustees 

Limited and Melbourne Girls’ College and 

has previously been a board member 

of Craft Victoria and Camberwell Girls’ 

Grammar School. 

Ms Prudence Sanderson 

BArch (Hons), Grad Dip Arch Cons, 

Dip CD AICD 

Pru was reappointed to the Board 

in May 2005 and is the CEO of the 

Victorian Government’s sustainable 

urban development authority. An 

honours graduate in architecture, Pru 

has held senior positions delivering major 

infrastructure projects including Design 

Manager for Melbourne Museum and 

Manager of Development and Operations 

for Federation Square. Pru has also 

served in local government with the City of 

Melbourne and the City of Whitehorse. 

Mr Nicholas Whitby 

BBus 

Nick was reappointed to the Board in 1995 

and is Managing Director of Grollo Leisure 

& Tourism. Nick has responsibility for a 

range of businesses and assets including 

property development, ski lift operations, 

hospitality and retail assets. Nick has a 

well-established understanding of the 

tourism sector and the interaction between 

commercial operations and government. 

Ms Gaye Hamilton 

BSc (Ed) 

Gaye was appointed to the Board in 

April 2007. After beginning her career 

as a secondary school teacher, Gaye 

has previously held senior positions with 

the Victorian Department of Education 

and Museums Victoria as well as Zoos 

Victoria. She is also a Board member 

of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre 

Trust, the Victorian State Sports Centre’s 

Trust, Seaworks’ Foundation, the People 

and Parks Foundation and the Western 

Bulldogs Football Club. 

Ms Kimberley Dripps 

BVSc (Hons), MBA 

Kimberley was appointed to the Board 

in April 2008. Kimberley practised as 

a vet for six years before joining the 

Department of Natural Resources and 

Environment in 1999. She undertook a 

range of roles focussed on policy and 

program development and management 

before being appointed as Director 

Business Strategy and Services. Until 

May 2010, Kimberley was Executive 

Director Biodiversity and Ecosystem 

Services, Department of Sustainability and 

Environment, managing policy, programs 

and research to benefit Victoria’s rich 

biodiversity. Kimberley is currently Executive 

Director of Intergovernmental Relations 

and Land, Planning and Environment 

for the Regional Rail Link Project at the 

Department of Transport. 

Dr Kenneth Hinchcliff 

BVSc (Hons), MS, PhD, DACVIM 

Kenneth was appointed to the Board in 

2008 and is a graduate of the Melbourne 

Veterinary School and Dean of the Faculty 

of Veterinary Science at the University 

of Melbourne. He has completed an 

advanced training program in large animal 

internal medicine at the University of 

Wisconsin-Madison, and a PhD at the 

Ohio State University. Kenneth was a 

faculty member in the College of Veterinary 

Medicine at OSU, rising to professor before 

joining the University of Melbourne in 2007. 

Ms Mary Gillett 

BArts 

Mary was appointed to the Board in 

May 2008. She developed her interest 

in Victoria’s zoos serving as the State 

Member for Werribee for 10 years, from 

1996 to 2006. As the local member Mary 

worked closely with Werribee Open Range 

Zoo and Zoos Victoria to secure funding for 

a number of major developments. Prior to 

entering Parliament, Mary worked with the 

former Federated Storemen and Packers 

Union (now the National Union of Workers). 

Her early career saw her have roles with 

the Australian Tax Office and the Industrial 

Relations Commission. 

Ms Helen Thornton 

B.Ec ACA 

Helen was appointed to the Board in 

February 2010 and was appointed as 

Chair of the Audit & Risk and Compliance 

Committee in March 2010. Helen has 

extensive experience in risk management 

and both internal and external audit and 

has worked in a number of executive 

positions in the private sector. She was an 

independent member of the Audit & Risk 

and Compliance Committee for a number of 

years prior to her appointment to the Board. 

Helen is also on the Boards of Rural Finance 

Corporation and Big Sky Credit Union. 

34 


Board Committees 

The Board has established the following committees, which oversee the Governance 

and Compliance requirements of the Zoological Parks and Gardens Board: 

Name of Committee ZV Board Members Zoos Victoria Independent 

Committee Responsibility Management Members 

Business To advise, monitor and make recommendations Nick Whitby (Chair) CEO N/A 

Development to the Board in relation to business plans, Andrew Fairley 

Committee funding models, long-range planning, branding Gaye Hamilton 

and environmental and social impacts. 

Pru Sanderson 

Helen Thornton 

Remuneration To advise, monitor and make recommendations Irene Irvine (Chair) CEO N/A 

and Governance to the Board of Directors in relation to executive Andrew Fairley HR Director 

Committee remuneration, overarching industrial relations Ken Hinchcliff 

policies and guidelines and governance matters, 

nominations to Board positions and strategic 

risk management. 

Audit, Risk and To review the quality of financial reporting, Helen Thornton (Chair) CEO Peter Riley 

Compliance the financial management of the capital (Appointed 22/03/2010) CFO (from 16/6/10) 

Committee development program, review financial risk Kimberley Dripps 

management procedures and monitor regulatory, (Acting Chair to 31/12/2009) 

legal and internal control compliance. 

Irene Irvine 

Science Advisory To advise and assist Zoos Victoria in discharging Dr Ken Hinchcliff (Chair) Director Wildlife David Choquenot 

Committee its responsibilities in relation to science, research Conservation, Mak Bergman 

and conservation activities. The Committee Senior Veterinarian Andrew Bennett 

consists of senior Zoos Victoria staff, a nominated 

Sally Cockburn 

representative from the Department of 

Padriag Duignan 

Sustainability and Environment and at least three 

Sze Flett 

independent external members with recognised 

scientific and research disciplines. 

David Gardner 

Betty Weiler 

Andrew Fisher 

Animal Welfare To confirm that the care of animals is conducted Kimberley Dripps (Chair) CEO Duncan Mackellar 

Peer Review in accordance with Zoos Victoria and industry Mary Gillett Senior Veterinarian Graham Mitchell 

Committee policies and procedures, review all animal welfare John Henley 

incident reports and peer review decisions made 

and conclusions drawn from any investigation 

into issues from complaints or concerns about 

animal welfare. 

A separate report is provided on the Animal 

Welfare Peer Review Committee as an 

addendum to this annual report. 


CORPOrATE 



Attestation on Compliance with the 

Australian/New Zealand 

Risk Management Standard 

I, Chair of the Audit and Risk and 

Compliance Committee of the Board certify 

that the Zoological Parks and Gardens 

Board has risk management processes 

in place consistent with the Australian/ 

New Zealand Risk Management Standard 

and an internal control system is in place 

that enables the executive to understand, 

manage and satisfactorily control risk 

exposures. The Zoological Parks and 

Gardens Board verifies this assurance and 

that the risk profile of the Zoological Parks 

and Gardens Board has been critically 

reviewed within the last 12 months. 

Helen Thornton 

Chair 

Audit and Risk Management Committee 

Zoological Parks and Gardens Board 

5 August 2010 

Jennifer Gray 



5 August 2010 

Industry standards and ZAA 

Zoos Victoria as a member of the Zoos and 

Aquariums Association is committed to the 

ZAA accreditation process. Accreditation 

ensures that member zoos have consistent 

standards of operation and animal welfare. 

Zoos Victoria is represented on the 

ZAA Accreditation and Animal Welfare 

Committee, and has four members of 

staff who fulfill the role of ZAA 

accreditation officers. All three properties 

are ZAA accredited. 

Freedom of Information 

The Freedom of Information Act 1982 

allows the public a right of access to 

documents held by the Board. For the 

12 months ending 30 June 2010, the 

Board received one application. 

Number Number 

Details 2009-10 2008-09 

Access granted in part 1 4 

Access denied in full 0 0 

No. Documents 0 0 

Matters not finalised 0 0 

Total 1 4 

Requests as detailed in Section 17 of the 

FOI Act must be made in writing along with 

the prescribed fee of $23.90 (as at 1 July 

2010) to: 

Contact Details: 

FOI Officer 

PO Box 74 

Parkville Vic 3052 

Telephone: (03) 9285 9300 

Facsimile: (03) 9285 9330 

Email: foi@zoo.org.au 

A written response will be forwarded to the 

applicant in accordance with the Act. 

Major External Reviews 

No major external reviews were carried out 

on Zoos Victoria in 2009-10. 

Subsequent Events 

There were no matters subsequent to 

the financial report being finalised that 

significantly affect finances. 

Significant Changes in the Financial 

Position During the Year 

There were no significant changes in the 

financial position during the year. 

Disclosure of Major Contracts 

No contracts of over $10 million were 

entered into in the reporting period. 

Consultancies 

Details of consultancies over $100,000 

Consultant 

Project 

Total approved project fee 

Expenditure 2009-10 

Future expenditure 

Nil 

Nil 

$’000 ex gst 

Nil 

Nil 

Nil 

Details of consultancies under $100,000 

Consultancies engaged during the year 

where total fees was less than $100,000 

Number 3 

$’000 ex gst 

Expenditure 2009-10 $44 

Future expenditure 

Nil 

36 


National Competition Policy 

Competitive neutrality seeks to enable fair 

competition between government and 

private sector businesses. Any advantages 

or disadvantages that government 

businesses may experience, simply as a 

result of government ownership, should 

be neutralised. Zoos Victoria continues to 

implement and apply this principle in its 

business undertakings. 

Whistleblower Protection Act 2001 

The Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 

encourages and assists people in making 

disclosures of improper conduct by 

public officers and public bodies. The Act 

provides protection to people who make 

disclosures in accordance with the Act 

and establishes a system for the matters 

disclosed to be investigated and rectifying 

action to be taken. 

The Board does not tolerate improper 

conduct by employees, nor the taking 

of reprisals against those who come 

forward to disclose such conduct. It is 

committed to ensuring transparency and 

accountability in its administrative and 

management practices and supports the 

making of disclosures that reveal corrupt 

conduct, conduct involving a substantial 

mismanagement of public resources, 

or conduct involving a substantial 

risk to public health and safety or the 

environment. 

The Board will take all reasonable steps to 

protect people who make such disclosures 

from any detrimental action in reprisal for 

making the disclosure. It will also afford 

natural justice to the person who is the 

subject of the disclosure. 

Reporting Procedures 

Disclosures of improper conduct or 

detrimental action by the Board or its 

employees may be made to the following 

officers: 

The Protected Disclosure Coordinator 

Ms Amanda Embury 


Locked Bag 210 PO 


Telephone: (03) 9285 9419 

Protected Disclosure Officer 

Mr Lawrence Tai 


Locked Bag 210 PO 


Telephone: (03) 9285 9488 

Alternatively, disclosures of improper 

conduct or detrimental action by the 

Zoological Parks and Gardens Board’s 

employees may also be made directly to: 

Stopline 


c/o STOPLINE 

Locked Bag 8 

Hawthorn Vic 3122 

Telephone: 1300 30 45 50 

Facsimile: (03) 9882 4480 

Attention: The Zoo c/o STOPLINE 

disclosure@stopline.com.au 

www.stopline.com.au 

The Ombudsman Victoria 

The Ombudsman Victoria 

Level 9, 459 Collins St (North Tower) 

Melbourne Vic 3000 

Telephone: (03) 9613 6222 

Toll Free: 1800 806 314 

ombudsman@ombudsman.vic.gov.au 

www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au 

Further Information 

Written guidelines outlining the system for 

reporting disclosures of improper conduct 

or detrimental action by the Zoological 

Parks and Gardens Board’s employees are 

available on the Board’s website. 

Disclosures Under the Whistleblowers 

Protection Act 

2010 2009 

Details Number Number 

The number and types 

of disclosures made to 

public bodies during 

the year: Nil Nil 

Any recommendations 

made by the Ombudsman 

that relate to the 

public body: Nil Nil 


CORPOrATE 



Compliance Statement for the 

Financial Management 

The Zoological Parks and Gardens 

Board of Victoria has complied with the 

Financial Compliance Framework Direction 

requirements. 

Major Changes or Factors Affecting 

Performance 

There were no major issues or factors 

during the year that significantly affected 

financial or operational performance 

throughout the year. 

Compliance With the Building 

Act 1993 


Board Victoria complies with building 

management provisions of the Building Act 

1993. The Zoological Parks and Gardens 

Board Victoria ensures that all works 

requiring building approval have plans 

certified, works in progress inspected and 

Occupancy Permits issued by independent 

Building Surveyors engaged on a local job 

by job basis. It also ensures that plans for 

these works are lodged with the relevant 

local council. 


Board Victoria requires all building 

practitioners engaged on building works 

to be registered and maintain registration 

throughout the course of the works. 

Building work 

The major building work in 2009-10 was 

construction of the new Wild Sea exhibit 

and Gorilla Rainforest Classroom at 

Melbourne Zoo and the Orange-bellied 

Parrot breeding facility at Healesville 

Sanctuary. Work for the new Wild Sea 

exhibit started in August 2008 and was 

completed in December 2010. 

Zoos Victoria ensures that all building 

projects were constructed by registered 

builders in accordance with approved 

drawings and specifications. The exhibits 

are now being used by the staff and public. 

All had plans certified, works in progress 

inspected and Occupancy Permits issued 

where required by independent Building 

Surveyors. 

Maintenance 

Maintenance and improvement works are 

regularly carried out on Zoological Parks 

and Gardens Board’s buildings to ensure 

that they are maintained in a safe and 

serviceable condition. 

Conformity 

Work is continuing to ensure that all 

existing buildings conform to standards. 

Pecuniary Interest Disclosures 

Board members are required to complete 

a statement of pecuniary interest including 

any relevant shareholdings during the year 

and have done so. Members are also given 

the opportunity to declare specific interest 

at the start of each Board meeting. 

Implementation of the Victorian 

Industry Participation Policy 

In October 2003, the Victorian Parliament 

passed the Victorian Industry Participation 

Policy Act 2003 which requires public 

bodies and Departments to report on the 

implementation of the Victorian Industry 

Participation Policy (VIPP). Departments 

and public bodies are required to apply 

VIPP in all tenders over $3 million in 

metropolitan Melbourne and $1 million in 

regional Victoria. 

Details of contracts to which VIPP applies 

Contract commenced Number Value 

2009-10 0 0 

Contract completed Number Value 

2009-10 1 $14M 

38 


Statement of Availability of Other 

Information 

The following information is available 

on request, subject to the Freedom of 

Information Act 1982: 

+ A statement that declarations of 

pecuniary interests have been duly 

completed by all relevant officers 

+ Details of shares held by a senior officer 

as nominee or held beneficially in a 

statutory authority or subsidiary 

+ Details of publications produced by Zoos 

Victoria about itself, and how these can 

be obtained 

+ Details of changes in prices, fees, 

charges, rates and levies charged by 


+ Details of any major external reviews 

carried out on Zoos Victoria 

+ Details of major research and 

development activities undertaken by 


+ Details of overseas visits undertaken 

including a summary of the objectives 

and outcomes of each visit 

+ Details of major promotional, public 

relations and marketing activities 

undertaken to develop community 

awareness of Zoos Victoria and its 

services 

+ Details of assessments and measures 

undertaken to improve the occupational 

health and safety of employees 

+ A general statement on industrial 

relations within Zoos Victoria and details 

of lost time through industrial accidents 

and disputes 

+ A list of major committees sponsored 

by Zoos Victoria, the purposes of each 

committee and the extent to which 

purposes have been achieved. 

This information is available on 

request from: 

FOI Officer 


PO Box 74 


Telephone: (03) 9285 9488 

Facsimile: (03) 9285 9330 

Email: foi@zoo.org.au 


PUBLICATIONS 

Banks CB and Thomas J (2009) Joint 

venture. World Conservation April 2009: 

p17. 

Banks CB, Lau MWN and D Dudgeon 

(2008) Captive management and breeding 

of Romer’s Tree Frog Chirixalus romeri. 

International Zoo Yearbook 42: 99-108. 

Chan R, Stuart-Fox D and Jessop TS 

(2009) Why are females ornamented? 

A test of the courtship stimulation and 

courtship rejection hypothesis. Behavioral 

Ecology 20: 1334-1342. 

Cuddy NJ (2009) Nature Based Tourism 

Conference “International Marketing Tips 

and Tricks”. 

Cuddy NJ (2009) Tourism Excellence – 

Western Melbourne Tourism “Package and 

Product Development”. 

Doody JS, Gillespie G, Susanto D, Ulhasanah 

AU, Marín J and Mitchell R (2010) 

Rhabdophis chrysargoides (gunther’s 

keelback snake). Mating behaviour. 

Herpetological Review (In press). 

Doody JS, Usman Ul-Hasanah AU, 

Shelton M and Gillespie G (2010) Draco 

beccarii (Beccar’s Flying Dragon). Nesting. 

Herpetological Review (In press). 

Gillespie G (2010) Population age structure 

of the spotted tree frog (Litoria spenceri): 

insights into population decline. Wildlife 

Research 37: 19-26. 

Haynes L, Arzey E, Bell C, Buchanan N, 

Burgess G, Cronan V, Dickason C, Field 

H, Gibbs S, Hansbro PM, Hollingsworth 

T, Hurt AC, Kirkland P, McCracken H, 

O’Connor J, Tracey J, Wallner J, Warner 

S, Woods R and Bunn C (2009) Australian 

surveillance for avian influenza viruses in 

wild birds between July 2005 and June 

2007. Australian Veterinary Journal 87: 

266-272. 

Harlow HJ, Purwandana D, Jessop 

TS and Phillips JA (2010) Size related 

differences in the thermoregulatory habits 

of Komodo dragons. International journal of 

Zoology: in press. 

Holz PH, Orbell GMB and Beveridge I 

(2010) Sarcoptic mange in a wild swamp 

wallaby (Wallabia bicolor). Australian 

Veterinary Journal. In press. 

Imansyah J, Jessop TS, Sumner JS, 

Purwandana A and Agento S (2009) 

Distribution, seasonal use, and predation 

of incubation mounds of Orange-footed 

Scrubfowl on Komodo Island, Indonesia. 

Journal of Field Ornithology 80: 119-126. 

Jessop TS, Chan R and Stuart-Fox 

D (2009) Sex steroid correlates of 

female-specific colouration, behaviour 

and reproductive state in Lake Eyre 

dragons lizards, Ctenophorus. Journal of 

Comparative physiology A – Neuroethology 

sensory neural and Behavioral Physiology. 

195: 619-630. 

Jessop TS, Sumner J, Rudiharto H, 

Phillips JA and Ciofi C (2010) Associations 

in the host-parasite dynamics between 

Komodo dragons and their ectoparasites. 

Australian Zoologist: in press. 

Jessop TS, Urlus J, Lockwood T and 

Gillespie G (2010) Preying Possum: 

Assessment of the diet of lace monitors 

(Varanus varius) from coastal forests in 

Eastern Victoria. Biawak: in press. 

Lowry RL (2009) Visitor Based 

Conservation Campaigns at Zoos Victoria 

Australasian Association of Zoos Parks and 

Aquaria. 

Lowry RJ and Gray J (2009) Using 

Conservation Education To Bring About 

Behaviour Change. World Association of 

Zoos and Aquaria. 

McLelland DJ, Rich BG and Holz PH 

(2009) The pharmacokinetics of single 

dose intramuscular amoxicillin trihydrate 

in tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii). 

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 40: 

113-116. 

Parkar U, Traub RJ, Vitali S, Elliot A, 

Levecke B, Robertson I, Geurden T, 

Steele J, Drake B and Thompson RCA 

(2010) Molecular characterisation of 

Blastocystis isolates from zoo animals 

and their animal-keepers. Veterinary 

Parasitology 169: 8-17. 

Phalen DN, Holz PH, Rassmussen L 

and Bayley C (2010) Fatal Columbid 

Herpesvirus-1 infections in three species 

of Australian birds of prey. Journal of Avian 

Medicine and Surgery. In press. 

Singh D, Dixson BJ, Jessop TS, Morgan 

B and Dixson AF (2010) Cross-cultural 

attractiveness of the female hourglass 

figure. Evolution and Human Behavior 

31:171-176. 

Slocombe RF, McCowan C, Wang J and 

Holz PH Avian pox in crimson rosellas 

(Platycercus elegans) in southern Australia. 

Avian Pathology. In press. 

Stokeld Davenport D 2010. Gould’s 

Wattled Bat (Chalinolobus gouldii) at 

Melbourne Zoo. In: Barnard, S. M. (ed.) 

Bats in Captivity Volume 2: Aspects of 

Rehabilitation. Washington D.C.: Logos 

Press. 

Young LJ, McFarlane R and Holz PH 

Observations on morphology and relative 

leukocyte values in the peripheral blood of 

two endangered marsupial species. Zoo 

Biology. In press. 

40 


Conference 

proceedings AND 

presentations 

Baker R (2010) The Christmas Island 

Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus murrayi). Issues 

in conserving wildlife ecosystems or 

threatened species. Zoo Aquarium 

Association Conference 2010. 

Baker R (2010) The response of Zoos 

Victoria in wild animal care during the 

Black Saturday Bushfires. Zoo Aquarium 


Cartwright K and McCulloch B (2010) 

Two decades of community-driven 

conservation: Friends of the Helmeted 

Honeyeater ensure its survival. Zoo 

Aquarium Association Conference 2010. 

Castellano C and Doody S (2010) 

Madagascar’s Tortoises on the Brink of 

Extinction. Zoo Aquarium Association 

Conference 2010. 

Coleman S and McCabe K (2010) 

Corporate Programs Zoo and Aquarium 

Association Annual Conference 

Proceedings 2010. 

Cooper M (2010) Saving the critically 

endangered Tenkile Dendrolagus scottae 

and Weimang Dendrolagus pulcherrimus: 

An NGO’s approach to influencing 

environmental attitudes and driving 

behaviour change in the Torricelli Mountain 

Range, Sandaun Province - Papua New 

Guinea (PNG). Zoo Aquarium Association 


Eastley T and Blanck A (2010) Wild diets 

for captive Tasmanian Devils: Is this the 

way to improved health and management 

of this species? Australasian Society of 

Zoo Keeping, Adelaide, Australia. 

Gilmartin J, Morato N and Ong M 

(2010) Zoos Today: Becoming Leaders in 

Conservation and Skills for Sustainability. 

Zoo Aquarium Association Conference 

2010. 

Gray J (2010) Zoo-Based Conservation 

Organisation – The next evolution 

for Zoos? Zoo Aquarium Association 


Hollis K and Hammersley G (2010) The 

use of Alfaxalone as a Chemical Restraint 

in Reptiles - A preliminary study. VNCA 

Zoo & Wildlife Nursing conference 2010. 

Killeen S (2010) C-U-A – the Experience. 

Presented at the Education, Interpretation 

and Visitor Experience Special Advisory 

Group as part of the Zoo and Aquarium 

Association, Melbourne, Australia. 

Killeen S and Pastorelli J (2010) POWER 

of Presentations Workshop. National 

Association of Interpreters Conference, 

Townsville, Australia 

Killeen S and Pastorelli J (2009) POWER 

of Presentations Workshop. Interpretation 

Australia Association Conference, Rota 

Rua, New Zealand. 

Liu B and Finlay Y (2010) Banyak Binatang 

Victorian Indonesian Language Teachers 

Association Conference 2010 

Livermore D (2010) Extending the reach of 

Community Conservation Campaigns. Zoo 


Lowry R (2010) Community Conservation 

at Zoos Victoria – Behaviour Change 

in Practice. Zoo Aquarium Association 


McCabe K and Coleman S (2010) 

Corporate Animals. Zoo Aquarium 


Parrott M and Selwood L (2010) Mate 

choice increases the success of captive 

breeding programs: Implications for 

endangered species conservation. Zoo 


Robertson J (2010) Feeling the heat: 

communicating in a crisis. Zoo Aquarium 


Smith L and Pahlow K (2010) When does 

the zoo turn into a nag? (Part II). Zoo 


Squires B (2010) A Zoo Conservation 

program that’s all about People; the Zoos 

Victoria-Melako Partnership. Zoo Aquarium 


Thomas J, Elton I and Watson P (2009) 

Reproduction and longevity of captive 

Platypus at Healesville Sanctuary. Platypus 

Forum, Hobart, Australia. 

Thomas J, Elton I, Watson P and 

Muehlenberg A (2010) Uncertain future 

for the Platypus: The challenges and 

recent advances associated with ex situ 

conservation strategies for this species. 

Zoo Aquarium Association Conference 

2010. 

Waldon S Tyger, Tyger, Burning Bright: 

Connections to Tigers and Ecotourism 

at Melbourne Zoo (2009) Geography 

Teachers Association of Victoria Annual 

Conference. 

Watson P, West M, Parrott M and Mack 

M (2010) Captive breeding of the critically 

endangered Mountain Pygmy-possum: An 

investment in species conservation. Zoo 


Yoong K (2010) Seven Crucial Steps to 

Environmental Sustainability. Zoo Aquarium 


Yoong K (2009) Environmental 

Sustainability at Zoos Victoria, 

Sustainability Roundtable 2009. 

Yoong K (2010) Environmental 

Sustainability at Zoos Victoria, Monash 

World Environment Day Awards 2010. 


Our Partners 

AND Supporters 


Foundation 

Supporters 

Visionary 

Estate of Jean Coats Reid 

Estate of Alexia Fuller 

Estate of Ethel Marguerite 

Cowell Ham 

Estate of Douglas Page 

RACV 

The Yulgilbar Foundation 

Luminary 

Equity Trustees: Albert 

George & Nancy Caroline 

Youngman Trust 

HGK Foundation 

Husqvarna 

Ian Potter Foundation 

Estate of Heather 

Naughtons 

Pental Products 

PETstock 

Guardian 

CSL Limited 

Mrs Paula and Mr Lindsay 

Fox 

Estate of Reginald Gregory 

Integrated Group Limited 

John T Reid Charitable 

Trust 

Lord Mayor’s Charitable 

Foundation 

Estate of Winifred I E 

Mackenzie 

Mr Ian McLeod 

Melbourne Veterinary 

Specialist Centre 

Merrin Foundation 

Mrs Eva and Mr Dan 

Presser 

Suzuki Australia 

The Dyson Bequest 

Leader 

Aussie Recycling Program 

Bendigo Bank Telco 

Mr George Calombaris 

Ms Lyndsey Cattermole 

Clark Rubber 

Davis & Marks Lawyers 

Joan D Oliver 

LA Precast 

Mattioli Brothers 

Merle Carroll Assistance 

Fund 

Suzuki 

The Kathleen Agnes Back 

Estate 

The Vizard Foundation 

Threatened Species 

Donation Box 

Zoo and Aquarium 

Association 

Champion 

Mrs Venise Alstergren 

Commonwealth Bank – 

Healesville 

Estate of Kevin S Cowell 

Estate of Ethel Marguerite 

Cowell Ham 

Estate of Shirley Poole 

Healesville Sanctuary Cash 

Donation 

Mrs Barbara Shearer 

The Governing Council of 

the Cat Fancy Victoria & 

Australia 

Hero 

Alvis Car Club of Victoria 

Club Australia 

Mr Mark Collins 

Ms Julie Crewes 

Geelong College 

Preparatory School 

German Shepherd Dog 

Club of Victoria Inc. 

Mrs Diana Ruzzene-Grollo 

and Rino Grollo 

Mr Peter Helder 

Melbourne Zoo Cash 

Donation 

Misa Miscellaneous Zoo 

Income 

Rehab Med Students 

Association – University of 

Alberta 

Richmond RSL 

Rotary Club of Footscray 

Miss Shirley Sullivan 

The Friends School 

Upwey High School Year 8 

Mr Stephen Walmsley 

Mr Alan Ward 

Werribee Zoo Cash 

Donations 

Mrs Ann Williams 


Partners & 

Supporters 

Major Partners 

Cadbury Schweppes 

Delaware North Catering 

Australia 

Friends of the Zoos Ltd 

Husqvarna 

Nestle Peters 

Community Partners 

Australian Tourism Export 

Council 

City West Water 

Geelong Otway Tourism 

Mission Australia 

RACV 

Western Melbourne 

Tourism 

Wyndham City Council 

Yarra Ranges Regional 

Marketing 

Community 

Conservation 

Partners 

Aussie Recycling Program 

Friends of the Helmeted 

Honeyeater 

Greening Australia 

Hutan 

Jane Goodall Institute 

Australia 

Mabuwaya Foundation 

Melako Community 

Conservancy 

Melbourne Museum 

Melbourne Water 

National Centre for 


Parks Victoria 

Royal Botanic Gardens 

Education Partners 

Catholic Education 

Commission of Victoria 

Catholic Education Office 

Department of Education 

& Early Childhood 

Development 

Firestarter 

Greening Australia 

The Australian Ballet 

Government 

Partners 

Commissioner 

for Environmental 


Federal Government, 

Department of the 

Environment, Water, 

Heritage and the Arts 

Federal Government, 

Department of Agriculture, 

Fisheries and Forestry 

NSW Department of 

Environment & Climate 

Change 

ResourceSmart 

Victorian Department 

of Sustainability and 

Environment 

Victorian Department of 

Primary Industries 

Tourism Australia 

Tourism Victoria 

Industry Partners 

Australian Tourism Export 

Council 

Zoo and Aquarium 

Association 

International 

Conservation 

Partners 

Fauna & Flora International 

Hutan 

Jane Goodall Institute 

Mabuwaya Foundation 

Northern Rangelands Trust 

Tenkile Conservation 

Alliance 

Media Partners 

Herald Sun 

Melbourne’s Child 

Network Ten 

Research Partners 

Deakin University 

Monash University 

The University of 

Melbourne 

Victoria University, 

Wellington 

Supporters 

Commissioner 

for Environmental 

Sustainability Victoria 

Ian Potter Foundation 

Seeding Victoria 

Vision for Werribee Plains 

42 


2009-10 

ZOOS VICTORIA 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Zoological Parks & Gardens Board 

Accountable officer’s and chief finance and accounting officer’s declaration 

We certify that the attached financial statements for the Zoological Parks and Gardens 

Board have been prepared in accordance with Standing Direction 4.2 of the Financial 

Management Act 1994, applicable Financial Reporting Directions, Australian Accounting 

Standards, including interpretations, and other mandatory professional reporting 

requirements. 

We further state that, in our opinion, the information set out in the comprehensive 

operating statement, balance sheet, statement of changes in equity, cash flow statement 

and notes forming part of the financial statements, presents fairly the financial transactions 

during the year ended 30 June 2010 and financial position of the Zoological Parks and 

Gardens Board at 30 June 2010. 

We are not aware of any circumstance which would render any particulars included in the 

financial statements to be misleading or inaccurate. 

We authorise the attached financial statements for issue on 12th August 2010. 

Andrew EJ Fairley 

Chairman 

Kevin Tanner 

Acting Chief Executive Officer 

Lawrence Tai 

Chief Financial Officer 


44 ZOOS VICTORIA FINANCIAL REPORT 2009-10


Comprehensive operating statement for the financial year ended 30 June 2010 

Income from transactions 


Notes $’000 $’000 

Revenue 1(j)(2(a) 37,171 32,200 

Government Grants 2(b) 11,487 14,591 

Other income 2(c) 3,320 5,123 

Total income from transactions 51,978 51,914 

Expenses from transactions 

Employee benefits 1(k)(viii),3(a) (28,821) (27,887) 

Supplies and services 1(k)(vii),3(b) (14,385) (14,511) 

Depreciation and amortisation 1(k)(ii)&(iii),3(c) (6,117) (5,499) 

Other operating expenses 3(d) (2,890) (2,616) 

Finance expense 1(k)(v),3(e) (25) (29) 

Total expenses from transactions (52,238) (50,542) 

Net result from transactions (net operating balance) (260) 1,372 

Other economic flows included in net result 

Net gain/(loss) on non financial assets 12(a) 30 30 

Net gain/(loss) on financial asset 12(b) - (276) 

Total other economic flows included in net result 30 (246) 

Net result (230) 1,126 

Other economic flows – other non owner changes in equity 

Changes in physical asset revaluation reserve 13(a) 4,700 (2,711) 

Financial assets available for sale reserve - Transferred to profit or loss for the period 13(b) - (309) 

Total other economic flows – Other non owner changes in equity 4,700 (3,020) 

Comprehensive result 4,470 (1,894) 

The comprehensive operating statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes. 

ZOOS VICTORIA FINANCIAL REPORT 2009-10 

45


Balance sheet as at 30 June 2010 


Notes $’000 $’000 

Assets 

Financial assets 

Cash and cash equivalents 1(l)(i),15(a),22(h) 32,378 21,560 

Receivables 1(l)(ii),4,22(h) 1,021 1,867 

Other financial assets 1(l)(iii),5,22(h) - 10,990 

Total financial assets 33,399 34,417 

Non financial assets 

Inventories 1(l)(iv) 1,445 1,125 

Property, plant and equipment & vehicles 1(l)(vii),7(a)&7(b) 191,504 184,378 

Intangible assets 1(l)(v),6 500 551 

Prepayments 86 56 

Defined Benefit Plan 1(k)(ix),8(b) - 59 

Total non financial assets 193,535 186,169 

Total assets 226,934 220,586 

Liabilities 

Payables 1(m)(i),9,22(h) 2,691 3,476 

Borrowings 1(m)(ii),10,22(h) 280 415 

Provisions 1(m)(iii),11 6,478 6,680 

Total liabilities 9,449 10,571 

Net assets 217,485 210,015 

Equity 

Accumulated surplus/(deficit) 10,593 10,823 

Contribution by owners 1(c) 104,423 101,423 

Reserves 13 102,469 97,769 

Total equity 217,485 210,015 

Commitments for expenditure 16 

Contingent liabilities and contingent assets 19 

The above balance sheet should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes. 



Statement of changes in equity for the financial year ended 30 June 2010 

Total Transactions 

compre with owners in 

Equity at -hensive their capacity Equity at 

Notes 1 July 2009 result as owners 30 June 2010 

Accumulated surplus/(deficit) 10,823 (230) 10,593 

Sub Total accumulated surplus/(deficit) 10,823 (230) 10,593 

Contributions by owners 83,953 83,953 

Capital appropriations 17,470 3,000 20,470 

Sub Total – contribution by owners 101,423 3,000 104,423 

Physical asset revaluation reserve 13(a) 97,769 4,700 102,469 

Sub Total – reserves 97,769 4,700 102,469 

Total equity at end of financial year 210,015 4,470 3,000 217,485 

Total Transactions 

compre with owners in 

Equity at -hensive their capacity Equity at 

Notes 1 July 2008 result as owners 30 June 2009 

Accumulated surplus/(deficit) 10,006 1,126 11,132 

Financial assets available for sale reserve 

- Transferred to profit or loss for the period (309) (309) 

Sub Total accumulated surplus/(deficit) 10,006 817 10,823 

Contributions by owners 83,953 83,953 

Capital appropriations 10,555 6,915 17,470 

Sub Total – contribution by owners 94,508 6,915 101,423 

Physical asset revaluation reserve 13(a) 100,480 (2,711) 97,769 

Financial assets available for sale reserve 13(b) (309) 309 - 

Sub Total – reserves 100,171 (2,711) 309 97,769 

Total equity at end of financial year 204,685 (1,894) 7,224 210,015 

The above statement of changes in equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes. 


47


Cash flow statement for the financial year ended 30 June 2010 


Notes $’000 $’000 

Cash flows from operating activities 

Receipts 

Receipts from government 12,233 14,341 

Sponsorship received 1,806 2,552 

Receipts from admission 22,445 19,520 

Receipts from sales of goods 6,230 5,615 

Receipts from other sources 11,301 8,914 

Goods and services tax recovered from the ATO 220 1,236 

Interest received 1,034 1,643 

Investment income received 49 14 

Total receipts 55,318 53,835 

Payments 

Payments to suppliers (20,425) (19,315) 

Payments to employees (28,796) (27,145) 

Interest and other costs of finance paid (25) (29) 

Total payments (49,246) (46,489) 

Net cash flows from/(used in) operating activities 15(b) 6,072 7,346 

Cash flows from investing activities 

Payment for investment (31) (10,045) 

Payments for Property, Plant & Office Equipment & Vehicles (9,256) (15,940) 

Payments for Intangible assets (13) (97) 

Proceeds from redemption of investment 11,198 - 

Proceeds from sale of Plant & Office Equipment & Vehicles 108 90 

Net cash flows from/(used in) investing activities 2,006 (25,992) 

Cash flows from financing activities 

Owner contributions by State Government 3,000 6,915 

Repayment of finance leases (139) (163) 

Repayment of borrowings (121) (178) 

Net cash flows from/(used in) financing activities 2,740 6,574 

Net increase/ (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 10,818 (12,072) 

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial year 21,560 33,632 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the financial year 15(a) 32,378 21,560 

The above cash flow statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes. 



Notes to the financial statements for the financial year ended 30 June 2010 

Note 1 - Summary of Significant 

Accounting Policies 

a) Statement of compliance 

The financial report is a general 

purpose financial report which has 

been prepared on an accrual basis 

in accordance with the Financial 

Management Act 1994 and applicable 

Australian Accounting Standards and 

Interpretations (AASs). AASs include 

Australian equivalents to International 

Financial Reporting Standards. 

In complying AASs, the entity 

has, where relevant, applied those 

paragraphs applicable to not for profit 

entities. 

b) Basis of accounting preparation and 

measurement 

The accrual basis of accounting has 

been applied in the preparation of these 

financial statements whereby assets, 

liabilities, equity, income and expenses 

are recognised in the reporting period 

to which they relate, regardless of when 

cash is received or paid. 

In the application of the AASs, 

management is required to make 

judgments, estimates and assumptions 

about carrying values of assets and 

liabilities that are not readily apparent 

from other sources. The estimates and 

associated assumptions are based 

on historical experience and various 

other factors that are believed to be 

reasonable under the circumstance, the 

results of which form the basis of making 

the judgments. Actual results may differ 

from these estimates. 

The estimates and underlying 

assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing 

basis. Revisions to accounting estimates 

are recognised in the period in which the 

estimate is revised if the revision affects 

only that period or in the period of the 

revision, and future periods if the revision 

affects both current and future periods. 

Accounting policies are selected and 

applied in a manner which ensures 

that the resulting financial information 

satisfies the concepts of relevance and 

reliability, thereby ensuring that the 

substance of the underlying transactions 

or other events is reported. 

The accounting policies set out below 

have been applied in preparing the 

financial report for the year ended 

30 June 2010 and the comparative 

information presented for the year ended 

30 June 2009. 

c) Equity 

Contributions by owners 

Additions to net assets which have 

been designated as contributions by 

owners are recognised as contributed 

capital. Other transfers that are in the 

nature of contributions or distributions 

have also been designated as 

contributions by owners. 

Transfers of net assets arising from 

administrative restructurings are treated 

as distributions to or contributions by 

owners. 

d) Scope and presentation of financial 

statements 

Comprehensive operating statement 

Income and expenses in the 

comprehensive operating statement are 

classified according to whether or not 

they arise from ‘transactions’ or ‘other 

economic flows’. This classification is 

consistent with the whole of government 

reporting format and is allowed under 

AASB 101 Presentation of financial 

statements. 

‘Transactions’ and ‘other economic flows’ 

are defined by the Australian system of 

government finance statistics: concepts, 

sources and methods 2005 Cat. No. 

5514.0 published by the Australian 

Bureau of Statistics (see Note 23). 

‘Transactions’ are those economic 

flows that are considered to arise as 

a result of policy decisions, usually 

interactions between two entities by 

mutual agreement. Transactions also 

include flows within an entity, such 

as depreciation where the owner is 

simultaneously acting as the owner of the 

depreciating asset and as the consumer 

of the service provided by the asset. 

Taxation is regarded as mutually agreed 

interactions between the Government 

and taxpayers. Transactions can be in 

kind (e.g. assets provided/given free of 

charge or for nominal consideration) or 

where the final consideration is cash. 

‘Other economic flows’ are changes 

arising from market re-measurements. 

They include gains and losses from 

disposals, revaluations and impairments 

of non-current physical and intangible 

assets; actuarial gains and losses arising 

from defined benefit superannuation 

plans; fair value changes of financial 

instruments and agricultural assets; 

and depletion of natural assets (nonproduced) 

from their use or removal. 

The net result is equivalent to profit or 

loss derived in accordance with AASs. 

Balance sheet 

Assets and liabilities are presented in 

liquidity order with assets aggregated 

into, financial assets and non-financial 

assets. 

Current and non-current assets 

and liabilities (those expected to be 

recovered or settled beyond 12 months) 

are disclosed in the notes, where 

relevant. 

Statement of changes in equity 

The statement of changes in equity 

presents reconciliations of each 

non-owner and owner equity opening 

balance at the beginning of the 

reporting period to the closing balance 

at the end of the reporting period. 

It also shows separately changes 

due to amounts recognised in the 

comprehensive result and amounts 

recognised in other comprehensive 

income related to other non owner 

changes in equity. 

Cash flow statement 

Cash flows are classified according 

to whether or not they arise from 

operating activities, investing activities, 

or financing activities. This classification 

is consistent with requirements under 

AASB 107 Statement of cash flows. 


49




Accounting Policies (cont.) 

e) Reporting entity 

The financial report covers the 

Zoological Parks and Gardens Board as 

an individual reporting entity. 

The Board is a Statutory Authority of 

the State of Victoria, established under 

the Zoological Parks and Gardens 

Board Act 1995. It also trades under 

the business name of Zoos Victoria and 

operates three zoos namely, Melbourne 

Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and 

Werribee Open Range Zoo. Its principal 

address is: Elliott Avenue, Parkville, 

Victoria 3052. 

f) Goods and Services Tax (GST) 

Income, expenses and assets are 

recognised net of the amount of 

associated GST, unless the GST 

incurred is not recoverable from the 

taxation authority. In this case it is 

recognised as part of the cost of 

acquisition of the asset or as part of 

the expense. 

Receivables and payables are stated 

inclusive of the amount of GST 

receivable or payable. The net amount 

of GST recoverable from, or payable to, 

the taxation authority is included with 

other receivables or payables in the 

balance sheet. 

Cash flows are presented on a gross 

basis. The GST components of cash 

flows arising from investing or financing 

activities which are recoverable from, 

or payable to the taxation authority, are 

presented as operating cash flow. 

g) Commitments 

Commitments include those operating, 

capital and other outsourcing 

commitments arising from noncancellable 

contractual or statutory 

sources and are disclosed at their 

nominal value. Note 16 provides 

further details. 

h) Contingent assets and contingent 

liabilities 

Contingent assets and contingent 

liabilities are not recognised in the 

balance sheet, but are disclosed by 

way of a note and, if quantifiable, are 

measured at nominal value. 

i) Rounding of amounts 

Amounts in the financial statements 

have been rounded to the nearest 

thousand dollars, unless otherwise 

stated. Figures in the financial 

statements may not equate due 

to rounding. 

j) Revenue from transactions 

Revenue is recognised to the extent 

that it is probable that the economic 

benefits will flow to the Board and the 

revenue can be reliably measured. The 

following specific recognition criteria 

must also be met before revenue is 

recognised: 

(i) Sale of goods 

Revenue is recognised at the point 

of sale when the significant risks and 

rewards of ownership of the goods 

have passed to the buyer and the 

costs incurred or to be incurred in 

respect of the transaction can be 

measured reliably. 

(ii) Rendering of services 

Revenue from rendering of services 

is recognised when the services are 

rendered. 

(iii) Grants and donations 

Government grants, donations, 

sponsorship and other contributions 

are recognised as revenues 

when they are received or there 

is reasonable assurance that they 

will be received and all attaching 

conditions will be complied with. 

(iv) Interest revenue 

Interest revenue includes interest 

received on bank term deposits, 

interest from investments, and other 

interest received. Interest revenue is 

recognised on a time proportionate 

basis that takes into account the 

effective yield on the financial asset. 

(v) Dividend revenue 

Dividend revenue is recognised on a 

receivable basis. 

(vi) Other income 

Other income consists of outgoings 

recovered, miscellaneous items that 

are usually one-off revenue item 

received during the year and gains/ 

losses on disposal of property, 

plant and equipment, disposal 

of investments and disposal of 

a business. Any gain or loss on 

disposal is recognised at the date 

control of the asset is passed to 

the buyer and is determined after 

deducting from the proceeds the 

carrying value of the asset at 

that time. 

k) Expenses from transactions 

(i) Grants and other payments 

Grants, subsidies and other 

payments to third parties are 

recognised as an expense in the 

reporting period in which they are 

paid or payable. 

(ii) Depreciation 

Depreciation is provided on property, 

plant and equipment, including 

buildings but excluding land. 

Depreciation is generally calculated 

on a straight-line basis so as to write 

off the net cost or other re-valued 

amount of each asset over its 

expected useful life. The estimated 

useful lives and depreciation method 

are reviewed at the end of each 

annual reporting period. 

The following useful lives of assets 

are used in the calculation of 

depreciation: 

Category 

Buildings 

Plant and office 

equipment 

Motor vehicles 

and buses 

Useful lives 

10 to 100 years 

5 to 20 years 

3 to 10 years 




(iii) Amortisation 

Amortisation begins when the asset 

is available for use, that is, when 

it is in the location and condition 

necessary for it to be capable of 

operating in the manner intended 

by management. The amortisation 

period and the amortisation method 

for an intangible asset with a finite 

useful life are reviewed at least at 

the end of each annual reporting 

period. 

(iv) Resources provided free of charge 

Resources provided free of charge 

or for nominal consideration are 

recognised at their fair value. 

(v) Finance expense 

Borrowing costs are recognised 

as expenses in the period in which 

they are incurred. Borrowing costs 

include interest on bank overdrafts 

and short-term and long-term 

borrowings, and finance lease and 

hire purchase charges. 

(vi) Research expenditures 

Expenditure on research activities 

is recognised as an expense in the 

period in which it is incurred. 

(vii) Supplies and services 

Supplies and services generally 

represent the day-to-day running 

costs, including maintenance costs, 

incurred in the normal operations 

of the zoos. These items are 

recognised as an expense in the 

reporting period in which they are 

incurred. 

(viii) Employee benefits 

Employee benefits include all 

costs related to employment 

including wages and salaries, leave 

entitlements, redundancy payments 

and superannuation contributions. 

These are recognised when 

incurred. 

(ix) Superannuation 

The amount recognised in the 

comprehensive operating statement 

in respect of superannuation 

plans represents the employer’s 

contributions to the various 

superannuation funds during the 

reporting period. Note 8(a) provides 

further details. 

State defined benefit plan 

Contributions to defined 

contribution superannuation plans 

are expensed when incurred. 

The amount charged to the 

comprehensive operating statement 

in respect of the State’s defined 

benefit plan superannuation 

represents the contributions made 

by the Board to the superannuation 

plan in respect to the current 

services of current Board staff. 

Superannuation contributions are 

made to the plan based on the 

relevant rules of the plan. 

The Board does not recognise 

any defined benefit liability in 

respect of the superannuation 

plan because the Board has no 

legal or constructive obligation to 

pay future benefits relating to its 

employees; its only obligation is to 

pay superannuation contributions 

as they fall due. The Department of 

Treasury and Finance administers 

and discloses the State’s defined 

benefit liabilities in its financial 

report. 

Other defined benefit plan 


Board closed the Zoological Board 

of Victoria Superannuation Fund 

(ZSF) a sub-plan of the Mercer 

Super Trust on approval from 

the Trustee. The remaining eight 

members of the former scheme had 

their superannuation transferred 

to MLC Masterkey Business 

Superfund which is an accumulation 

fund. Further information is 

contained in Note 8(b). 

(x) Impairment of assets 

The carrying amounts of noncurrent 

assets, with the exception of 

available-for-sale assets and defined 

benefit plan asset, are assessed 

annually for indications of impairment. 

If there is an indication of impairment, 

the assets concerned are tested 

as to whether their carrying value 

exceeds their recoverable amount. 

Where an asset’s carrying value 

exceeds its recoverable amount, the 

difference is written off by a charge 

to the comprehensive operating 

statement except to the extent that 

the write-down can be debited to 

an asset revaluation reserve amount 

applicable to that class of asset. 

The recoverable amount for most 

assets is measured at the higher 

of depreciated replacement cost 

and fair value less costs to sell. 

Recoverable amount for assets held 

primarily to generate net cash inflows 

is measured at the higher of the 

present value of future cash flows 

expected to be obtained from the 

asset and fair value less costs to sell. 

It is deemed that, in the event of the 

loss of an asset, the future economic 

benefits arising from the use of 

the asset will be replaced unless a 

specific decision to the contrary has 

been made. 


51





l) Financial and non-financial assets 

All non-current assets, including Crown 

land, controlled by the Zoological Parks 

and Gardens Board are reported in the 

balance sheet. 

(i) Cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents comprise 

cash on hand and cash at bank, 

deposits at call and highly liquid 

investments with an original maturity 

of 3 months or less, which are readily 

convertible to known amounts of cash 

and are subject to insignificant risk of 

changes in value. 

For the cash flow statement 

presentation purposes, cash and cash 

equivalents includes bank overdrafts, 

which are included as borrowings on 

the balance sheet. 

(ii) Receivables 

Receivables consist predominantly 

of debtors in relation to goods 

and services, accrued investment 

income and GST input tax credits 

recoverable. All debtors are 

recognised at the amount receivable, 

as they are due for settlement at no 

more than 30 days from the date of 

recognition. 

Receivables are recognised initially at 

fair value and subsequently measured 

at amortised cost, using the effective 

interest rate method, less any 

accumulated impairment. A provision 

for doubtful receivables is made when 

there is objective evidence that the 

debts will not be collected. Bad debts 

are written off when identified. 

The average credit period on sales of 

goods and services is 30 days. No 

interest is normally charged on trade 

and other receivables. 

(iii) Other financial assets 

Available-for-sale financial assets 

Investments are recognised and 

derecognised on trade date where 

purchase or sale of an investment is 

under a contract which terms require 

delivery of the investment within the 

timeframe established by the market 

concerned, and are initially measured 

at fair value, net of transaction costs. 

The Board classifies the investments 

it held as available-for-sale financial 

assets and they are stated at fair 

value. Gains and losses arising from 

changes in fair value are recognised 

directly in equity until the investment 

is disposed of or is determined 

to be impaired, at which time the 

cumulative gain or loss previously 

recognised in equity is included in 

profit or loss for the period. 

(iv) Inventories 

Inventories comprised of finished 

goods held either for sale in the 

ordinary course of business 

operations. Inventories held for 

distribution are measured at the 

lower cost and net realisable value. 

Costs are assigned to individual 

items of inventory using the first in 

first out valuation method and include 

expenditure incurred in acquiring the 

inventories and bringing them to their 

existing condition and location. Net 

realisable value is determined on the 

basis of normal selling patterns. 

(v) Intangible Assets 

Intangible assets represent 

identifiable non-monetary assets 

without physical substance. 

Intangible assets are initially 

recognised at cost. Subsequently, 

intangible assets with finite useful 

lives are carried at cost less 

accumulated amortisation and 

accumulated impairment losses. 

Costs incurred subsequent to initial 

acquisition are capitalised when it 

is expected that additional future 

economic benefits will flow to the 

Board. The following useful lives of 

assets are used in the calculation of 

amortisation: 

Category 

Software 

(vi) Animal Collections 

Useful lives 

10 years 

The zoo animal collection managed 

by the Board is reflected in the 

Board’s accounting records as 

one dollar. This is consistent with 

worldwide zoo industry practice. 

The Board regards the animals as 

part of a regional and international 

collection and not the specific 

property of the holding institution. 

(vii) Property, Plant and Equipment 

All non-current physical assets 

are measured initially at cost and 

subsequently revalued at fair value 

less accumulated depreciation and 

impairment. 

Non-current physical assets land are 

measured at fair value with regard to 

the property’s highest and best use 

after due consideration is made for 

any legal or constructive restrictions 

imposed on the asset. 

The fair value of plant, equipment 

and vehicles, is normally determined 

by reference to the asset’s 

depreciated replacement cost. 

For plant, equipment and vehicles, 

existing depreciated historical cost 

is generally a reasonable proxy 

for depreciated replacement cost 

because of the short lives of the 

assets concerned. 




(viii) Non-current assets constructed 

by the Board 

The cost of non-current assets 

constructed by the Board includes 

the cost of all materials used in 

construction, equipment and direct 

labour on the project. 

(ix) Revaluation of non-current 

physical assets 

Non-current physical assets 

measured at fair value are revalued 

in accordance with Financial 

Reporting Directions (FRD’s) 

issued by the Minister for Finance. 

This revaluation process normally 

occurs every five years, based upon 

the asset’s Government Purpose 

Classification. Revaluation increments 

or decrements arise from differences 

between carrying value and fair value. 

Revaluation increments are credited 

directly to equity in the revaluation 

reserve, except that, to the extent 

that an increment reverses a 

revaluation decrement in respect 

of that class of asset previously 

recognised as an expense in the net 

result, the increment is recognised as 

income in determining the net result. 

Revaluation decrements are 

recognised immediately as expenses 

in the net result, except that, to the 

extent that a credit balance exists in 

the revaluation reserve in respect of 

the same class of assets, they are 

debited to the revaluation reserve. 

Revaluation increases and revaluation 

decreases relating to individual 

assets within an asset class are offset 

against one another within that class 

but are not offset in respect of assets 

in different classes. 

Revaluation reserves are not normally 

transferred to accumulated surplus on 

de-recognition of the relevant asset. 

Land controlled by the Zoological 

Parks and Gardens Board is 

measured at fair value with regard 

to the land’s highest and best use 

after due consideration is made for 

legal and/or constructive restrictions 

imposed on the land. These 

restrictions, whereby the land has 

been reserved, have been assessed 

by the valuer as reducing the land 

value for zoning and overlay by 45% 

for both Werribee Open Range 

Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary, and 

60% for Melbourne Zoo due to an 

additional allowance for the iconic 

nature of the site. 

The valuation is in line with FRD103D 

and the basis of valuation is by 

indexing the 2008-09 figure by 

indices supplied by The Valuer- 

General Victoria. Comparable indices 

and category for the valuation used 

are outlined below: 

(x) Leases non-current assets 

Finance Lease 

+ Leases are classified as finance 

leases whenever the terms of the 

lease transfer substantially all the 

risks and rewards of ownership 

to the lessee. All other leases are 

classified as operating leases. 

+ Assets held under finance leases 

are recognised as assets of the 

Board at their fair value or, if lower, 

at the present value of the minimum 

lease payments, each determined 

at the inception of the lease. The 

corresponding liability to the lessor 

is included in the balance sheet as a 

finance lease obligation. 

+ Minimum lease payments are 

allocated between the principal 

component of the lease liability, 

and the interest expense calculated 

using the interest rate implicit in the 

lease, and charged directly to the 

comprehensive operating statement. 

+ Finance lease assets are depreciated 

over the shorter of the estimated 

useful life of the asset or the term of 

the lease. 

Operating Lease 

+ Operating lease payments are 

recognised as an expense 

on a straight-line basis over 

the lease term, except where 

another systematic basis is more 

representative of the time pattern of 

the benefits derived from the use of 

the leased asset. 

2009-10 2008-09 

Postcode Municipality Locality Indices Category Indices Category 

3030 Wyndham Derrimut, Point Cook, 1.15 Englobo 0.95 Rural 

Werribee 

3052 Melbourne Parkville 1.05 Englobo 0.97 Englobo 

3777 Yarra Ranges Healesville, Toolangi 1.06 Rural 0.95 Rural 


53





m) Liabilities 

(i) Payables 

Payables consist predominantly of 

creditors and other sundry liabilities. 

Payables are initially recognised at 

fair value, then subsequently carried 

at amortised cost and represent 

liabilities for goods and services 

provided to the Board prior to the 

end of financial year that are unpaid, 

and arise when the Board becomes 

obliged to make future payments 

in respect of the purchase of these 

goods and services. Fair value is 

determined in the manner described 

in Note 22(f). 

(ii) Borrowings 

Borrowings are recorded initially at 

fair value, net of transaction costs. 

Subsequent to initial recognition, 

borrowings are measured at 

amortised cost with any difference 

between the initial recognised 

amount and the redemption value 

being recognised in profit and loss 

over the period of the borrowing 

using the effective interest rate 

method. Fair value is determined in 

the manner described in Note 22(f). 

(iii) Employee Benefits 

Annual leave 

Liabilities for annual leave expected 

to be settled within 12 months of 

the reporting date are recognised in 

the provision for employee benefits 

in respect of employee services up 

to the reporting date, classified as 

current liabilities and measured at 

their nominal values. Those liabilities 

that are not expected to be settled 

within 12 months are recognised in 

the provision for employee benefits 

as liabilities, measured at present 

value of the amounts expected to be 

paid when the liabilities are settled 

using the remuneration rate expected 

to apply at the time of settlement. 

Long service leave (LSL) 

Liability for LSL is recognised in the 

provision for employee benefits. 

Current Liability- unconditional 

LSL is disclosed in the notes to 

the financial statements as current 

liability even where the Board does 

not expect to settle the liability within 

12 months because it does not have 

the unconditional right to defer the 

settlement of the entitlement should 

an employee take leave within 

12 months. 

The components of this current LSL 

liability are measured at: 

+ Nominal value - component that 

is expected to settle within 

12 months, and 

+ Present value – component that is 

not expect to settle within 

12 months. 

Non-current Liability - conditional 

LSL is disclosed as a non-current 

liability. There is an unconditional 

right to defer the settlement of the 

entitlement until the employee has 

completed the requisite years of 

service. 

This non-current LSL liability is 

measured at present value. Gain 

or loss following revaluation of the 

present value of non current LSL 

liability due to changes in bond 

interest rates is recognised. 

Employee benefits on-costs 

Employee benefits on-costs (payroll 

tax, workers compensation, 

superannuation) are recognised 

separately from provision for 

employee benefits. Refer to Note 11 

for details. 




n) New accounting standards and interpretations 

Certain new accounting standards and interpretations have been published that are not mandatory for 

the 30 June 2010 reporting period. Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) assesses the impact 

of these new standards and advises departments and other entities of their applicability and early 

adoption where applicable. 

As at 30 June 2010, the following standards and interpretations had been issued but were not 

mandatory for financial year ending 30 June 2010. The Board has not, and does not intend to, 

adopt these standards early. 

Standard / Interpretation 

Summary 

Applicable for annual 

reporting periods 

beginning or ending on 

Impact on Board 

financial statements 

AASB 2009-5 Further 

amendments to Australian 

Accounting Standards arising 

from the annual improvements 

project 

[AASB 5, 8, 101, 107, 117, 118, 

136 and 139] 

Some amendments will result 

in accounting changes for 

presentation, recognition or 

measurement purposes, while 

other amendments will relate 

to terminology and editorial 

changes. 

Beginning 1 Jan 2010 

No Impact. 

AASB 2009-9 Amendments to 

Australian Accounting Standards 

– additional exemptions for firsttime 

adopters [AASB 1] 

Applies to entities adopting 


for the first time, to ensure 

entities will not face undue cost 

or effort in the transition process 

in particular situations. 


No impact. 

Relates only to first time 

adopters of Australian 

Accounting Standards. 

Erratum General Terminology 

changes 

Editorial amendments to a 

range of Australian Accounting 

Standards and Interpretations. 


Terminology and editorial 

changes. Impact minor. 



– classification of rights issues 

[AASB 132] 

The Standard makes 

amendments to AASB 132, 

stating that rights issues must 

now be classed as equity rather 

than derivative liabilities. 

Beginning 1 Feb 2010 

No impact. 

Zoo Board does not issue 

rights, warrants and options, 

consequently the amendment 

does not impact on the 

statements. 



arising from AASB 9 [AASB 1, 

3, 4, 5, 7, 101, 102, 108, 112, 

118, 121, 127, 128, 131, 132, 

136, 139, 1023 and 1038 and 

Interpretations 10 and 12] 

This gives effect to 

consequential changes arising 

from the issuance of AASB 9. 


Impact is still being assessed 

by DTF. 


55



Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont.) 

n) New accounting standards and interpretations (cont.) 

Standard / Interpretation 

Summary 

Applicable for annual 

reporting periods 

beginning or ending on 

Impact on Board 

financial statements 



[AASB 5, 8, 108, 110, 112, 119, 

133, 137, 139, 1023 and 1031 

and Interpretations 2, 4, 16, 

1039 and 1052] 

This standard amends AASB 8 

to require an entity to exercise 

judgement in assessing whether 

a government and entities 

known to be under the control of 

that government are considered 

a single customer for purposes 

of certain operating segment 

disclosures. 

This standard also makes 

numerous editorial amendments 

to other AASs. 


DTF assess that AASB8 does 

not apply to Departments or its 

agencies. Therefore no impact 

expected. Otherwise, only 

editorial changes arising from 

amendments to other standards 

and are not expected to be 

significant. 



arising from interpretation 19 

[AASB 1] 

Consequential amendment to 

AASB 1 arising from publication 

of Interpretation 19. 

Beginning 1 Jul 2010 

Zoo Board does not extinguish 

financial liabilities with equity 

instruments, therefore 

requirements of Interpretation 19 

and related amendments have 

no impact. 

AASB 2009-14 Amendments 

to Australian Interpretation – 

Prepayments of a minimum 

funding requirement [AASB 

Interpretation 14] 

Amendment to Interpretation 

14 arising from the issuance 

of Prepayments of a minimum 

funding requirement. 


Advice from DTF is that it will 

have no significant impact. 

AASB 124 Related party 

disclosures (Dec 2009) 

Government related entities have 

been granted partial exemption 

with certain disclosure 

requirements. 


Preliminary assessment 

suggests that impact is 

insignificant. 

AASB 9 Financial instruments 

This standard simplifies 

requirements for the 

classification and measurement 

of financial assets resulting from 

Phase 1 of the IASB’s project 

to replace IAS 39 Financial 

instruments: recognition 

and measurement (AASB 

139 Financial Instruments: 

recognition and measurement). 


Impact is still being assessed 

by DTF. 




Note 2 – Income from Transactions 


$’000 $’000 

(a) Revenue 

Sale of Goods 5,664 5,105 

Rendering of services 31,507 27,095 

Total revenue 37,171 32,200 

(b) Government grants 

Recurrent 10,336 13,389 

Other 1,151 1,202 

Total government grants 11,487 14,591 

(c) Other income 

Sponsorship and donations 1,519 2,757 

Interest on deposits 1,251 2,111 

Net gain on disposal of shares 164 - 

Income from investments 62 14 

Others 324 241 

Total other income 3,320 5,123 


57



Note 3 – Expenses from Transactions 


$’000 $’000 

(a) Employee benefits expense: 

Salary and wages 23,048 21,551 

Payroll tax and workcover 1,713 1,715 

Superannuation 2,216 1,971 

Defined benefit plan (income) / expense 59 314 

Annual leave and long service leave provisions 1,785 2,336 

Total employee benefits expenses 28,821 27,887 

(b) Supplies and services 

Purchase of supplies and consumables 2,681 2,339 

Purchase of services 7,696 7,956 

Maintenance 4,008 4,216 

Total supplies and services 14,385 14,511 

(c) Depreciation and amortisation 

Depreciation of non-current assets 6,051 5,443 

Amortisation of non-current assets 66 56 

Total Depreciation and amortisation 6,117 5,499 

(d) Other expenses 

Cost of goods sold 2,601 2,343 

Inventories write down 43 99 

Operating lease and rental expense 153 104 

Others 93 70 

Total other expenses 2,890 2,616 

(e) Finance expenses 

Interest on loans 10 26 

Finance charges payable under finance leases and hire purchase contract 15 3 

25 29 




Note 4 – Receivables 


$’000 $’000 

Current receivables 

Contractual 

Trade and other receivables 800 1,625 

800 1,625 

Statutory 

Net goods and service tax receivable 221 242 

Total Receivables 1,021 1,867 

Note 5 – Other Financial Assets 

Current 

Term deposit (maturity greater than 3 months) - 10,000 

Sub total current - 10,000 

Non-current 

Under a bequest arrangement the Board invested the proceeds into Vanguard Index Fund 

and funds are also deposited into the ANZ Trustees Balanced Charitable Common Fund. 

Both investments were disposed of during the year. 

Managed Investment Fund - 824 

Wildlife Conservation Foundation Fund - 166 

Sub total non-current - 990 

Total other financial assets - 10,990 

Note 6 – Intangible Assets 

Non-current 

Gross carrying amount 

Opening balance 647 550 

Additions 15 97 

Closing balance 662 647 

Accumulated amortisation 

Opening balance (96) (40) 

Amortisation expense (66) (56) 

Closing balance (162) (96) 

Net book value at the end of the financial year 500 551 

Note 7 – Property, Plant and Equipment and Vehicles 

Aggregate depreciation recognised as an expense during the year 

Buildings 5,339 4,808 

Plant and office equipment 478 446 

Motor vehicles and buses 234 189 

6,051 5,443 


59



Note 7(a) – Property, Plant and Equipment and Vehicles – Carrying Amounts 

$’000 Buildings at Plant, equipment, Motor vehicles Construction 

Land at valuation vehicles finance lease in progress 

fair value and cost at fair value at fair value at cost Total 

Non-current 

2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 

Valuation 2007 84,871 84,871 84,871 84,871 

Valuation 2009 86,139 86,139 

Valuation 2010 90,839 - 90,839 - 

Buildings, property, plant, 

equipment and vehicles at cost 24,775 1,694 9,001 8,071 585 596 34,361 10,361 

Buildings, plant and equipment 

in the course of construction at cost 1,343 17,332 1,343 17,332 

Accumulated Depreciation (14,933) (9,602) (4,681) (4,405) (296) (318) (19,910) (14,325) 

Closing balance 90,839 86,139 94,713 76,963 4,320 3,666 289 278 1,343 17,332 191,504 184,378 

An independent valuation of the Board’s land and buildings was performed by Matheson Stephen 

Valuations Australia Pty Ltd to determine the fair value of the land and buildings. The basis of valuation is 

the market value for the existing use which is based on the replacement cost of each asset’s remaining 

future service life and thus approximates its fair value. The valuation was based on independent 

assessments. The effective date of the valuation was 30 June 2007. The 2009 and 2010 valuation for land 

is in line with Financial Reporting Direction (FRD103D) the basis of valuation is outlined in Note 1(l) (ix). 

Note 7(b) – Property, Plant and Equipment and Vehicles – Movements in Carrying Amounts 

$’000 Buildings at Plant, equipment, Motor vehicles Construction 

Land at valuation vehicles finance lease in progress 

fair value and cost at fair value at fair value at cost Total 

Non-current 

2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 

Opening balance 86,139 88,850 76,963 80,052 3,666 3,418 278 347 17,332 3,033 184,378 175,700 

Additions 1,351 948 1,264 874 192 - 5,749 15,070 8,556 16,892 

Transfer from construction 

in progress 21,738 771 (21,738) (771) - - 

Disposal - (11) (79) (49) (79) (60) 

Net revaluation increments/ 

decrements 4,700 (2,711) 4,700 (2,711) 

Depreciation expense (5,339) (4,808) (610) (615) (102) (20) (6,051) (5,443) 

Closing balance 90,839 86,139 94,713 76,963 4,320 3,666 289 278 1,343 17,332 191,504 184,378 




Note 8(a) – Superannuation 

Employees of the Board are entitled to receive superannuation benefits and the Board contributes to 

various superannuation funds during the year. 

However, superannuation contributions paid or payable for the reporting period are included as part 

of employee benefits in the comprehensive operating statement of the Board. The name, details and 

amounts expensed in relation to the major employee superannuation funds and contributions made by 

the Board are as follows: 

Funds 

2010 2009 2010 2009 

$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000 

Contribution for the year Contribution outstanding 

at the year end 

State defined benefit fund (Note 1(k)(ix) 345 343 0 0 

Vicsuper 1,720 1,550 0 0 

Others 181 71 0 0 

Total 2,246 1,964 0 0 

Note 8(b) – Defined Benefit Plan Asset 

The following tables summarise the components of net benefit (income)/expense recognised in the 

comprehensive operating statement and the funded status and amounts recognised in the balance 

sheet for 2009-10 and 2008-09. 

Over the years, the Fund has been reducing in size (with 8 members remaining) and as a result 

operational costs have continued to increase. In addition, superannuation has now become much 

more complex with increased Government legislation and administrative requirements. In particular, 

the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act (“SIS”) has increased the reporting requirements of 

superannuation plans and the responsibilities placed on superannuation fund trustees. As a result of 

the increase in costs arising from the new compliance requirements and the fixed cost of maintaining 

the fund, it becomes inefficient to continue to operate funds of this size. 

The Zoological Parks and Gardens Board closed the Zoological Board of Victoria Superannuation 

Fund (ZSF) a sub-plan of the Mercer Super Trust and transferred existing members to MLC Masterkey 

Business Super (accumulation fund). Approval to close the ZSF was granted by the Trustee on 4th 

December 2009 and the transfer was completed on 28th February 2010. 

(a) Net benefit expense 


$’000 $’000 

Current service cost - 64 

Interest cost - 72 

Expected return on plan assets (net of expenses) - (101) 

Actuarial (gains)/losses - 331 

Past service cost - - 

Total expense recognised in respect of defined benefit plans - 366 


61



Note 8(b) – Defined Benefit Plan Asset (cont.) 


$’000 $’000 

(b) Benefit asset included in the balance sheet 

Non-current 

Present value of defined benefit obligation - 1,275 

Fair value of plan assets - (1,334) 

Net benefit assets – non financial - (59) 

(c) Changes in the present value of the defined benefit obligations are as follows: 

Opening defined benefit obligation - 1,199 

Interest cost - 64 

Current service cost - 72 

Contribution by plan participants - 20 

Benefit and expenses paid - (204) 

Actuarial (gains)/losses on obligation - 124 

Closing defined benefit obligation - 1,275 

(d) Changes in the fair value of defined benefit plan are as follows: 

Opening fair value of plan assets - 1,572 

Expected return - 101 

Contribution by employer - 52 

Contribution by plan participants - 20 

Benefit and expenses paid - (204) 

Actuarial (gains)/losses - (207) 

Closing defined benefit obligation - 1,334 

The fair value of plan assets includes no amounts relating to any of the Board’s own 

financial instruments or any property occupied by, or other assets used by, the Board. 

(e) Major categories of plan assets as a percentage of the fair value of the total plan assets 

Australian equities - 40% 

International equities - 15% 

Fixed interest securities - 25% 

Property - 12% 

Alternatives/ Others - 2% 

Cash - 6% 




Note 8(b) – Defined Benefit Plan Asset (cont.) 


$’000 $’000 

(f) Actuarial assumptions used in determining pension obligations 

Discount rate - 5.0%pa 

Expected rate of return on assets - 6.5%pa 

Future salary increases - 3.5%pa 

The expected return on assets assumption is determined by weighting the expected long-term 

return for each asset class by the target allocation of assets to each class, and allowing for 

the correlations of the investment returns between asset classes. The returns used for each 

class are net of investment tax and investment fee. 

(g) Actual return on plan assets 

Actual return on plan assets - (106) 

The history of experience adjustment is as follows: 

Experience adjustments loss/(gain) on plan liabilities - (19) 

Experience adjustments (gain) on plan assets - 207 

Note 9 – Payables 

Current 

Trade and other payables (non-interest and are normally settled on 30 days terms) 2,481 3,314 

Deferred revenue 210 162 

Total current - payables 2,691 3,476 

Note 10 – Borrowings 

Current 

Secured loan from State Government at amortised cost - 59 

Finance lease obligations secured by assets leased (Further information at Note 17) 136 276 

Total current borrowings 136 335 

Non-current 

Secured loan from State Government at amortised cost - 80 

Finance lease obligations secured by assets leased (Further information at Note 17) 144 - 

Total non-current borrowings 144 80 

Total borrowings 280 415 


63



Note 11 – Provisions 


$’000 $’000 

Current provisions 

Employees benefits (Note 11(a) and Note 11(b)) 

– Unconditional and expected to be settled within 12 months 1,996 1,904 

– Unconditional and expected to be settled after 12 months 3,142 3,368 

Provisions related to employee benefit on-costs: 

5,138 5,272 

– Unconditional and expected to be settled within 12 months 313 309 

– Unconditional and expected to be settled after 12 months 492 544 

805 853 

Total current provisions 5,943 6,125 

Non-current provisions 

Employees benefits (Note 11(a) and Note 11(b)) 463 478 

Provisions related to employee benefit on-costs: 72 77 

Total non-current provisions 535 555 

Total provisions 6,478 6,680 

Note 11(a) - Provision for employee benefits consist of amounts for annual leave and 

long service leave accrued by employees, not including on-costs. 

Note 11(b) – The Long Service Leave calculation assumes the retention or probability 

of employees remaining with the Board has been calculated based on average industry 

retention rates. 

Movement in provisions 

Opening balances 6,680 6,129 

Nett increment/(decrement) to provision (202) 551) 

Closing balance 6,478 6,680 

Note 12 - Other Economic Flows Included in Net Result 

(a) Net gain/(loss) on non financial assets 


$’000 $’000 

Net gain on disposal of physical assets 30 30 

Total net gain/(loss) on non financial assets 30 30 

(b) Net gain/(loss) on financial assets 

Impairment of other financial assets recognised in profit and loss - (276) 

Total net gain/(loss) on financial assets - (276) 




Note 13 – Reserves 


$’000 $’000 

(a) Physical asset revaluation reserve (Note 13(i)) 

Balance at the beginning of the financial year 97,769 100,480 

Revaluation increments/(decrements) 4,700 (2,711) 

Balance at the end of the financial year 102,469 97,769 

(b) Financial assets available-for-sale reserve (Note 13(ii)) 

Balance at the beginning of the financial year - (309) 

Cumulative (gain)/loss from impairment transferred to profit and loss during the year - 309 

Balance at the end of the financial year - - 

Total reserves 102,469 97,769 

13(i) The assets revaluation reserve arises on the revaluation of land and buildings. 

13(ii) The financial assets available for sale revaluation reserve arises on the revaluation of available for 

sale financial assets. Where a revalued financial asset is sold that portion of the reserve which 

relates to that financial asset, and is effectively realised, is recognised in profit and loss. Where a 

revalued financial asset is impaired that portion of the reserve which relates to that financial asset 

is recognised in profit and loss 

Note 14 – Subsequent Events 

There are no matters or circumstances that have arisen since the end of the financial year that have 

significantly affected or may significantly affect the operations of the Zoological Parks and Gardens 

Board, the results of those operations or the state of affairs of the Zoological Parks and Gardens Board 

in future financial years. 


65



Note 15 – Cash Flow Information 


$’000 $’000 

(a) Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents 

For the purposes of the Cash Flow Statement, cash includes cash on hand and at bank, 

and short-term deposits, net of outstanding bank overdrafts. Cash as at the end of financial 

year as shown in the Cash Flow Statement is reconciled to the related items in the balance 

sheet as follows: 

Cash on hand and at bank 1,028 310 

Short term deposit at call 31,350 11,250 

Term deposit (maturity within 3 months) - 10,000 

Total cash and cash equivalent 32,378 21,560 

(b) Reconciliation of net result for the period to net cash flows from operating activities 

Net result (230) 1,126 

Non cash movements: 

– Depreciation and amortisation of non current assets 6,117 5,499 

Movements included in investing and financing activities: 

– (Gain)/loss on sale or disposal of non-financial assets (30) (30) 

– (Gain)/loss on financial assets (177) 276 

Movements in assets and liabilities: 

– (Increase)/decrease in inventories (320) (85) 

– (Increase)/decrease in receivables 825 (509) 

– (Increase)/decrease in prepayments (30) 14 

– (Increase)/decrease in defined benefit assets 59 314 

– (Decrease)/increase in payables (11) 480 

– (Decrease)/increase in deferred revenue 48 (122) 

– (Decrease)/increase in provisions (179) 383 

Net cash flows from/(used in) operating activities 6,072 7,346 

(c) Non-cash financing and investing activities 

Additions to vehicles under finance leases during the financial year 192 - 

Total additions to vehicles under finance lease 192 - 




Note 16 – Commitments for Expenditure 


$’000 $’000 

The following commitments have not been recognised as liabilities in the financial statements. 

(a) Capital expenditure commitments 

– Payable within 1 year 611 2,065 

Total capital expenditure commitments 611 2,065 

(b) Operating Lease commitments 

– Payable within 1 year 115 144 

– Payable longer than 1 year and not longer than 5 years 113 199 

Total operating lease 228 343 

Note 17 – Finance Lease 

Finance lease liabilities payable 

Minimum future 

lease payments 

Present value of 

minimum future 

lease payments 


$’000 $’000 $’000 $’000 

– Not longer than one year 147 279 136 276 

– Longer than one year and not longer than five years 156 - 144 - 

Minimum future lease payments 303 279 280 276 

Less future finance charges (23) (3) - - 

Present value of minimum lease payments 280 276 280 276 

Included in the financial statements as: 

Current borrowings (Note 10) 136 276 

Non-current borrowings (Note 10) 144 - 

280 276 

Note 18 – Auditor’s Remuneration 


$’000 $’000 

Audit and review of the financial report by the Victorian Auditor General’s Office 30 28 

Total auditor’s remuneration 30 28 

Note 19 – Contingent Assets and Contingent Liabilities 

The Board does not have any contingent assets and contingent liabilities at the end of the financial year. 


67



Note 20 - Responsible Persons 

In accordance with the Ministerial 

Directions issued by the Minister for 

Finance under the Financial Management 

Act 1994, the following disclosures are 

made regarding responsible persons for 

the reporting period. 

Unless otherwise stated, the responsible 

persons held office for the full financial 

year (1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010). 

Minister for Environment 

and Climate Change 

The Hon Gavin Jennings 

Members of the Board 

Andrew Fairley (Chair) 

Irene Irvine (Deputy Chair) 

Nicholas Whitby 

Pru Sanderson 

Gaye Hamilton 

Kimberley Dripps 

Kenneth Hinchcliff 

Mary Gillett 

Helen Thornton (commenced 23/2/10) 


Jennifer H Gray 

Remuneration bands of 

responsible persons 

No of person 


$0 to $9,999 8 8 

$10,000 to $19,999 1 1 

$90,000 to $99,999 - 1 

$210,000 to $219,999 - 1 

$220,000 to $229,999 1 - 

Total Number 10 11 

Remuneration other than 

retirement benefits 

Total remuneration received, or due and 

receivable by Responsible Persons from 

the reporting entity. 


$’000 $’000 

298 357 

Retirement benefits 

Total retirement benefits received or due 

and receivable by Responsible Persons 

from the reporting entity. 


$’000 $’000 

- - 

Related party transactions of 

responsible persons 

Other related party transactions requiring 

disclosure under the Directions of the 

Minister for Finance have been considered 

and there are no matters to report. 

Note 21 - Remuneration of 

Executives 

The number of executive officers, other 

than responsible persons included under 

‘Remuneration of Responsible Persons’ 

above during the reporting period are 

shown below in their relevant income bands. 

Several factors have affected total 

remuneration payable to executives over the 

year. A number of employment contracts 

started part way through the year with the 

full impact this financial year and a number 

of executives received bonus payments 

during the year. 

No of persons 

Remuneration bands Total remuneration Base remuneration 


$10,000 to $20,000 - - - 1 

$60,000 to $70,000 2 1 2 2 

$100,000 to $109,999 - 2 - 1 

$110,000 to $119,999 - - - 

$120,000 to $129,999 - 1 - 2 

$130,000 to $139,999 - 1 - 1 

$140,000 to $149,999 3 2 4 2 

$150,000 to $159,999 2 - 3 - 

$160,000 to $169,999 2 1 1 - 

$190,000 to $199,999 1 1 - - 

Total number 10 9 10 9 

Total amount ($’000) 1,354 1,194 1,296 938 




Note 22 – Financial Instruments 


$’000 $’000 

(a) Categorisation of financial instruments 


Cash and cash equivalents 32,378 21,560 

Receivables (excluding statutory amount) 800 1,625 

Investments and other financial assets - 10,990 

Total financial assets 33,178 34,175 

Financial Liabilities 

Payables 2,691 3,476 

Borrowings 280 415 

Total financial liabilities 2,971 3,891 

(b) Financial risk management 

objectives 

The Board’s principal financial 

instruments comprise interest-bearing 

loans, finance leases and cash and 

short-term deposits. The main purpose 

of these financial instruments is to 

finance the acquisition of capital assets 

and the day-to-day operations. The 

Board has various other financial assets 

and liabilities such as trade receivables 

and trade payables, which arise directly 

from its operation. 

It is the Board’s policy that no trading 

in financial instruments, including 

derivative financial instruments, shall 

be undertaken. The main risks arising 

from the Board’s financial instruments 

are interest rate risk and credit risk. The 

policies for managing these risks are 

discussed in more detail below. 

(c) Significant accounting policies 

Details of the significant accounting 

policies and methods adopted, 

including the criteria for recognition, 

the basis of measurement and the 

basis on which income and expenses 

are recognised, in respect of each 

class of financial asset, financial liability 

and equity instrument are disclosed 

in Note 1 to the financial statements. 

(d) Significant terms and conditions 


Receivables are carried at the nominal 

amounts due less any allowance for 

doubtful debts, when there is objective 

evidence that the receivable amount is 

impaired. Credit sales are normally on 

7 to 30 day terms. 

Interest-bearing deposits are carried 

at the lower of cost and net realisable 

value. Interest revenue is brought into 

account as it is earned. All interestbearing 

deposits have a maturity of less 

than 180 days. 

Financial Liabilities 

Payables are recognised for future 

amounts to be paid in respect of goods 

and services received, whether or 

not billed to the Board. Settlement of 

creditors is normally within a 

30-day term. 

Borrowings are carried at amortised 

costs. Interest is charged as an 

expense as it is incurred. All loans 

are secured by way of a charge over 

the Board’s revenue and by State 

Government Guarantees. 

(e) Credit risk 

The Board’s maximum exposure to 

credit risk at balance date for each 

class of recognised financial assets is 

the carrying amount of those assets 

as disclosed in the statement of 

financial position. The Board minimises 

concentrations of credit risk by 

undertaking transactions with a large 

number of customers and counter 

parties. It is the Board’s policy that all 

customers who wish to trade on credit 

terms are subject to credit verification 

procedures. In addition, receivable 

balances are monitored on an ongoing 

basis with the result that the Board’s 

exposure to bad debts is not significant. 

The Board is not materially exposed to 

any customer or counter party. 


69



Note 22 – Financial Instruments (cont.) 

(f) Fair Value 

The available-for-sale investments 

held by the Board have been valued 

at market value at balance date. For 

other financial assets and liabilities, they 

are included in the Balance Sheet at 

amounts, which approximate their fair 

values. Transaction costs associated 

with exchanging assets and liabilities 

are not material and consequently are 

not included in the carrying value of 

these assets and liabilities. 

Fair values for cash, cash equivalents, 

interest-bearing deposits, receivables 

and payables are represented by the 

carrying amounts in the balance sheet. 

Borrowings reflect the amount to be 

repaid in accordance with the agreed 

terms and conditions of the loans 

and leases. 

(g) Market risk exposure 

The Board exposures to market risk 

are primarily through interest rate risk 

and other price risks. The processes 

used to manage each of these risks are 

disclosed in the paragraphs below. 

Interest rate risk 

Exposure to interest rate risk is 

insignificant. Minimisation of risk is 

achieved by mainly undertaking fixed 

rate or non-interest bearing financial 

instruments. For financial liabilities, 

the Board mainly undertakes financial 

liabilities with fixed rate. 

Sensitivity disclosure analysis 

Taking into account past performance, 

future expectations, economic 

forecasts, and management’s 

knowledge and experience of the 

financial markets, the Board believes 

the following movements are 

‘reasonably possible’ over the next 

12 months. 

A parallel shift of +1 per cent and -1 per 

cent in market interest rates (AUD) from 

year-end rates of 4.5 per cent; 

A parallel shift of +5 per cent and -5 per 

cent in market volatility of unit prices for 

its investment in indexed fund. 

Table shown in Note 22(j) discloses 

the impact on net operating result and 

equity for each category of financial 

instrument held by the Board at yearend 

as presented to key management 

personnel, if the above movements 

were to occur. 





(h) Interest rate exposure of financial instruments 

$’000 Interest rate exposure 

Weighted 

average effective Carrying Fixed Variable Non-interest 

Details interest rate amount interest rate interest rate bearing 

Cash and deposits: 

2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 

% % 

– Cash and cash equivalents 4.02 5.22 32,378 21,560 - 10,000 32,193 11,398 185 162 

Receivables: 

– Trade debtors and other receivables at amortised 

cost excluding statutory amount 800 1,625 800 1,625 

Other financial assets 

– Investment in managed investment fund - 990 - 990 

– Term deposit (maturity greater than 3 months) - 10,000 - 10,000 

Payables: 

33,178 34,175 - 20,000 32,193 11,398 985 2,777 

– Other payables at amortised cost 2,691 3,476 2,691 3,476 

Borrowings: 

– Secured loans 4.81 4.81 - 139 - 139 

– Finance lease liabilities 6.54 6.51 280 276 280 276 

2,971 3,891 280 415 2,691 3,476 

(i) Maturity of financial instruments 

$’000 Maturity dates 

Carrying Greater than 1 but Greater than 3 but Greater than 5 

Details amount Less than 1 year less than 3 years less than 5 years years 

Cash and deposits: 

– Cash and cash equivalents 32,378 21,560 32,378 21,560 

Receivables: 

– Trade debtors and other receivables at 

amortised cost excluding statutory amount 800 1,625 800 1,625 

Other financial assets 

– Investment in managed investment fund - 990 - 990 

– Term deposit (maturity greater than 3 months) - 10,000 - 10,000 

Payables: 

2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 

33,178 34,175 33,178 34,175 

– Other payables at amortised cost 2,691 3,476 2,691 3,476 

Borrowings: 

– Secured loans - 139 - 59 - 80 

– Finance lease liabilities 280 276 136 276 144 - 

2,971 3,891 2,827 3,811 144 80 


71




(j) Market risk exposure of financial instruments 


Other price risk 

-100 basis points +100 basis points -5 per cent +5 per cent 

$’000 Available Available 

Carrying Accum- Accum- -for-sale -for-sale 

Details amount Net Result Surplus Net Result Surplus Net Result Reserve Net Result Reserve 

2010 

Financial assets: 

Cash and cash equivalents (a) 32,193 (322) (322) 322 322 

Receivables 800 

Financial liabilities: 

Payables 2,691 

Borrowings 280 

Total increase/(decrease) (322) (322) 322 322 - - - - 

Note 

Sensitivities of market movement in cash rates and market volatility in investments. 

(a) Sensitivity impact on net result due to a +/-100 basis points movement in market interest rate. It does not 

include non-interest bearing amounts held for daily use as change and petty cash. 


Other price risk 

-100 basis points +100 basis points -5 per cent +5 per cent 

$’000 Available Available 

Carrying Accum- Accum- -for-sale -for-sale 

Details amount Net Result Surplus Net Result Surplus Net Result Reserve Net Result Reserve 

2009 

Financial assets: 

Cash and cash equivalents (a) 11,560 (115) (115) 115 115 

Receivables 1,625 

Other financial assets (b) 990 (50) (50) 50 50 

Financial liabilities: 

Payables 3,476 

Borrowings 139 

Total increase/(decrease) (115) (115) 115 115 (50) (50) 50 50 

Note 

Sensitivities of market movement in cash rates and market volatility in investments. 

(a) Sensitivity impact on net result due to a +/-100 basis points movement in market interest rate. 

(b) Sensitivity impact on investment net result due to a +/-5% movement in the market. 




Note 23 - Glossary of Terms 

Actuarial gains or losses on 

superannuation defined benefit plans 

Actuarial gains or losses reflect movements 

in the superannuation liability resulting from 

differences between the assumptions used 

to calculate the superannuation expense 

from transactions and actual experience. 

AASB 

Accounting Standards issued by the 

Australian Accounting Standards Board. 

Comprehensive result 

Total comprehensive result is the change 

in equity for the period other than changes 

arising from transactions with owners. 

It is the aggregate of net result and other 

non-owner changes in equity. 

Commitments 

Commitments include those operating, 

capital and other outsourcing 

commitments arising from non cancellable 

contractual or statutory sources. 

Employee benefits expenses 

Employee benefits expenses include all 

costs related to employment including 

wages and salaries, leave entitlements, 

redundancy payments and superannuation 

contributions. 

Financial asset 

A financial asset is any asset that is: 

(a) Cash 

(b) An equity instrument of another entity 

(c) A contractual right: 

+ To receive cash or another financial 

asset from another entity, or 

+ To exchange financial assets or 

financial liabilities with another entity 

under conditions that are potentially 

favourable to the entity, or 

(d) A contract that will or may be settled in 

the entity’s own equity instruments 

and is: 

+ A non derivative for which the entity 

is or may be obliged to receive a 

variable number of the entity’s own 

equity instruments, or 

+ A derivative that will or may be 

settled other than by the exchange 

of a fixed amount of cash or another 

financial asset for a fixed number of 

the entity’s own equity instruments. 

Financial liability 

A financial liability is any liability that is: 

(a) A contractual or statutory obligation: 

(i) To deliver cash or another financial 

asset to another entity, or 

(ii) To exchange financial assets or 

financial liabilities with another entity 

under conditions that are potentially 

unfavourable to the entity, or 

(b) A contract that will or may be settled 

in the entity’s own equity instruments 

and is: 

(i) A non-derivative for which the entity 

is or may be obliged to deliver a 

variable number of the entity’s own 

equity instruments, or 

(ii) A derivative that will or may be 

settled other than by the exchange 

of a fixed amount of cash or another 

financial asset for a fixed number of 

the entity’s own equity instruments. 

For this purpose the entity’s own 

equity instruments do not include 

instruments that are themselves 

contracts for the future receipt or 

delivery of the entity’s own equity 

instruments. 

Grants 

Grants can be paid as general purpose 

grants which refer to grants that are not 

subject to conditions regarding their use. 

Alternatively, they may be paid as specific 

purpose grants which are paid for a 

particular purpose and/or have conditions 

attached regarding their use. 

Financial statements 

Depending on the context of the sentence 

where the term ‘financial statements’ is 

used, it may include only the main financial 

statements (i.e. comprehensive operating 

statement, balance sheet, cash flow 

statements, and statement of changes in 

equity); or it may also be used to replace 

the old term ‘financial report’ under the 

revised AASB 101 (Sept 2007), which 

means it may include the main financial 

statements and the notes. 

Intangible assets 

Intangible assets represent identifiable 

non monetary assets without physical 

substance. 

Interest expense 

Costs incurred in connection with the 

borrowing of funds. Interest expenses 

include interest on bank overdrafts and 

short term and long term borrowings, 

amortisation of discounts or premiums 

relating to borrowings, interest component 

of finance leases repayments, and the 

increase in financial liabilities and non 

employee provisions due to the unwinding 

of discounts to reflect the passage of time. 

Interest revenue 

Interest revenue includes interest received 

on bank term deposits, interest from 

investments, and other interest received. 


73



Net acquisition of non financial assets 

(from transactions) 

Purchases (and other acquisitions) 

of non financial assets less sales (or 

disposals) of non financial assets less 

depreciation plus changes in inventories 

and other movements in non financial 

assets. Includes only those increases or 

decreases in non financial assets resulting 

from transactions and therefore excludes 

write offs, impairment write downs and 

revaluations. 

Net result 

Net result is a measure of financial 

performance of the operations for the 

period. It is the net result of items of 

revenue, gains and expenses (including 

losses) recognised for the period, 

excluding those that are classified as ‘other 

non owner changes in equity’. 

Net result from transactions/net 

operating balance 

Net result from transactions or net 

operating balance is a key fiscal aggregate 

and is revenue from transactions 

minus expenses from transactions. It 

is a summary measure of the ongoing 

sustainability of operations. It excludes 

gains and losses resulting from changes 

in price levels and other changes in the 

volume of assets. It is the component 

of the change in net worth that is due to 

transactions and can be attributed directly 

to government policies. 

Non financial assets 

Non financial assets are all assets that are 

not ‘financial assets’ such as property, 

plant and equipment, vehicles etc. 

Other economic flows 

Other economic flows are changes in 

the volume or value of an asset or liability 

that do not result from transactions. It 

includes gains and losses from disposals, 

revaluations and impairments of non 

current physical and intangible assets; 

actuarial gains and losses arising from 

defined benefit superannuation plans; fair 

value changes of financial instruments and 

agricultural assets; and depletion of natural 

assets (non produced) from their use or 

removal. In simple terms, other economic 

flows are changes arising from market re 

measurements. 

Payables 

Includes short and long term trade debt 

and accounts payable, grants and interest 

payable. 

Receivables 

Includes short and long term trade credit 

and accounts receivable, grants, nett of 

goods and service tax receivable and 

interest receivable. 

Sales of goods and services 

Refers to revenue from the direct provision 

of goods and services and includes fees 

and charges for services rendered, sales of 

goods and services, fees from regulatory 

services, work done as an agent for 

private enterprises. It also includes rental 

income under operating leases and on 

produced assets such as buildings and 

entertainment, but excludes rent income 

from the use of non produced assets such 

as land. User charges includes sale of 

goods and services revenue. 

Supplies and services 

Supplies and services generally represent 

cost of goods sold and the day to day 

running costs, including maintenance 

costs, incurred in the normal operations of 

the Board. 

Transactions 

Transactions are those economic flows 

that are considered to arise as a result 

of policy decisions, usually an interaction 

between two entities by mutual agreement. 

They also include flows within an entity 

such as depreciation where the owner is 

simultaneously acting as the owner of the 

depreciating asset and as the consumer 

of the service provided by the asset. 

Taxation is regarded as mutually agreed 

interactions between the government and 

taxpayers. Transactions can be in kind 

(e.g. assets provided/given free of charge 

or for nominal consideration) or where the 

final consideration is cash. In simple terms, 

transactions arise from the policy decisions 

of the government. 



75


DISCLOSURE 

INDEX 

Ministerial Directions, Report of Operations 

Legislation Requirement Page Reference 

Charter and Purpose 

FRD 22B Manner of establishment and the relevant Ministers 33 

FRD 22B Objectives, functions, powers and duties 33 

FRD 22B Nature and range of services provided 2, 33 

Management and Structure 

FRD 22B Organisational structure 31, 35 

Financial and Other Information 

FRD 10 Disclosure index 76 

FRD 12A Disclosure of major contracts 36 

FRD 15B Executive officer disclosures 68 

FRD 22B 

Operational and budgetary objectives and performance 

against objectives 32 

FRD 22B Employment and conduct principles 29 

FRD 22B Occupational health and safety policy 30 

FRD 22B Summary of the financial results for the year 10 

FRD 22B Significant changes in financial position during the year 36 

FRD 22B Major changes or factors affecting performance 38 

FRD 22B Subsequent events 36 

FRD 22B Application and operation of Freedom of Information Act 1982 36 

FRD 22B 

Compliance with building and maintenance provisions 

of Building Act 1993 38 

FRD 22B Statement on National Competition Policy 37 

FRD 22B Application and operation of the Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 37 

FRD 22B Details of consultancies over $100,000 36 

FRD 22B Details of consultancies under $100,000 36 

FRD 22B Statement of availability of other information 39 

FRD 25 Victorian Industry Participation Policy disclosures 38 

FRD 29 Workforce Data disclosures 28 

FRD 30 

Standard requirements for the design and print of annual reports Throughout 

SD 4.5.5 Risk management compliance attestation 36 

SD 4.2(g) General information requirements 1-42 

SD 4.2(j) Sign-off requirements 5, 6 

Legislation 

Building Act 1983 38 

Financial Management Act 1994 

Reporting requirement 

Freedom of Information Act 1982 36 

Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 37 

Victorian Industry Participation Policy Act 2003 38 


77

Melbourne Zoo 

PO Box 74 

Parkville Victoria 3052 

Elliott Avenue 

Parkville Victoria 

Tel: 61 3 9285 9300 

Fax: 61 3 9285 9350 

Healesville Sanctuary 

PO Box 248 

Healesville Victoria 3777 

Badger Creek Road 

Healesville Victoria 

Tel: 61 3 5957 2800 

Fax: 61 3 5957 2870 

Werribee Open Range Zoo 

PO Box 460 

Werribee Victoria 3030 

K Road 

Werribee Victoria 

Tel: 61 3 9731 9600 

Fax: 61 3 9731 9644 


PO Box 74 

Parkville Victoria 3052 

Elliott Avenue 

Parkville Victoria 

Tel: 61 3 9285 9300 

Fax: 61 3 9285 9330 

Email: zv@zoo.org.au 

ABN 96 913 959 053 

www.zoo.org.au 

© State of Victoria, Zoos Victoria 2010. 

This publication is copyright. No part may 

be reproduced by any process except 

in accordance with the provisions of the 

Copyright Act 1968. 

ISSN 1838-3653 

Printed on 100% recycled paper. 

Photography: Trent Browning, 

Max Deliopoulos.

Zoos Victoria Annual Report 2009-10.pdf

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