The State Government’s announcement of an $84 million upgrade for Werribee Open Range Zoo is great news for residents of Manor Lakes.

Along with the excitement of having elephants on our doorstep, the upgrade will boost employment and tourism in the area.

According to the Premier’s media release, “the expansion will create almost 350 local jobs – including 90 direct jobs looking after animals and visitors once the exhibits are up and running – as well as increasing the number of visitors and tourists through the gates from more than 680,000 in 2018/19 to one million visitors annually”.

The upgrade is also good news for the elephants, who will be relocating from Melbourne Zoo to be free to roam in a magnificent new 22 hectare elephant sanctuary.