Melbourne Zoo

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The Melbourne Zoo is Australia’s oldest zoo. Covering 55 acres, the zoo is home to 320 animal species as well as a number of heritage listed buildings. With a vision to be the world’s leading zoo-based conservation organisation, the zoo has been upgrading enclosures to modernise facilities for the animals and provide interactive learning opportunities for visitors. JMac Constructions (JMac) was engaged over three separate contracts to: - develop the meerkat enclosures including three new award winning designs surrounded by multiple tunnels and paths for children to play and to stimulate the behaviour and natural habits of the meerkat - upgrade the animal enclosures in the predator precinct, creating modern enclosures for both the lions and wild dogs as well as construction of pavements and a water play area for the visitors to the zoo - construct part of the walk-through lemur enclosure which forms the new entry to the rainforest precinct of the zoo.

Victoria

Lloyd Group

Landscape Construction

March 2012 - January 2014

$1.9 million

Complete

Scope

The scope of works over the three contracts included:

Meerkat enclosures:

3,200m2 of earthworks and construction of mounds
construction of multiple masonry retaining walls including bored piers
construction of six concrete tunnels designed for children
construction of one pop up tunnel for children and one concrete tunnel designed for children with disabilities
installation of glass fencing to meerkat enclosures
construction of concrete pathways and synthetic soft fall
construction of glass dome roofing for meerkat viewing and mezzanine floor viewing platform
preparation of multiple garden beds and palm installation
sandpit construction and boulder installation.

Predator Precinct:

construction of a 325m2 moat around the wild dog enclosure
supply and lay 1250m2 of turf
supply and installation of 270m2 coloured concrete paths and 90m2 of gravel paths
supply and installation of feature items including rock boulders and dead-fall trees.

Lemur Island:

construction works to the moat requiring 350m3 of liquafill and 700m2 of shotcrete including Aquron waterproof additive
supply and installation of 755m2 of exposed aggregate concrete paving, coloured and themed to suit the area
construction of a block of retaining walls, including reinforcing and foundation works and core fill installation
installation of 975 blocks to construct a wall, to the external component of the zookeepers building.

Outcomes

JMac delivered the meerkat enclosure project on budget and on time to open for the busy school holiday period. Undertaking construction in the oldest area of the zoo revealed the earth had been filled on an old creek. Additional earthworks and the importation of controlled fill were used to create a workable foundation. Additionally, JMac redesigned the exhibit wall footing and installed concrete piers to provide additional stability.

During construction of Lemur Island, the installation of the liquafill into the moat was a unique challenge, due to site access limitations. Two concrete boom pumps were used in tandem to pump over the heritage listed wall, and then reach the farthest point of the moat.