KEY POINTS:
Lion Man Craig Busch has been given the go-ahead to continue operating and to expand his operation into what may become the largest big cat habitat in Australia and New Zealand.
An application by Country Developments seeking consent for existing and proposed future development of the Zion Wildlife Gardens in Whangarei was approved in a decision released yesterday by Whangarei District Council independent hearing commissioners Conway Stewart and Giles Bramwell.
The consent for the site - which houses lions, rare white tigers and Barbary lions - is subject to a number of conditions relating to traffic, noise, on-site commercial activities and signs.
Other requirements include animal and perimeter fencing to be governed and monitored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, a landscape plan to minimise visual impact of the development on the surrounding area, and tree pruning.
The number of traffic movements in and out of the site is limited and the gardens are allowed to open seven days a week from 8.30am to 5pm.
Twelve full and part-time staff are employed, three of whom live permanently on the site.
Proposed future development, according to an application lodged with council planners, involves a larger area of animal enclosures for big cats.
Most submissions received by the council after the issue was publicly notified were against the application.
Several objectors told the Herald yesterday they understood the number of lions may be increased to 150, from a current total of about 50, under the proposed development plans.
Gray Rd property owner Darcy Gilberd, 54, said he thought yesterday's decision approving existing and future development was inevitable and he put his property on the market last week.
He claimed yesterday there had been at least 13 escapes by lions from their enclosures into the park.
"They've been spotted each time and put back in their enclosures. The council knows about it and was told at the hearing but they've disregarded it and the safety of local residents," Mr Gilberd said.
"It won't be long before they [lions] go over the perimeter fence to endanger everyone. I don't want to live in an area that endangers children, my grandchildren and visitors. I challenge anyone to walk along the road there after dark."
He maintains there were other more suitable and safer places the council could have looked at for the wildlife park but Mr Busch had been able to get away with everything at his present location.
Zion Wildlife Gardens did not return calls yesterday.
The council says it will monitor the latest conditions of consent and future developments at the park "in case any changes to conditions need to be made in coming years".
The plan
* Operations on the 30ha site in Gray Rd, Kamo, which features lions, rare white tigers and Barbary lions controlled by Lion Man Craig Busch had outgrown an earlier certificate of compliance consent. An application was made last year for a new consent from the council after an abatement notice was served on the gardens.
* Just over 20,000 sqm is planned for new development. About half of this will be taken up with new enclosures and the rest with buildings and facilities.
