Steve Hinks may not have grown up in Western NSW but he has embraced the agricultural hub of Dubbo and its 52,500 residents as his extended family. And now the zoo he runs is offering a temporary home to many of those in need.
Fourteen of the zoo’s self-contained cabins are being used by NSW Health for emergency accommodation, creating a safe space for around 84 people, including some who need to isolate.
“There is a lot of shock on the ground in Dubbo. This has moved very quickly,” says Mr Hinks, the Director of Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
“So this was an opportunity for the zoo to use its privileged position and look after those who are less fortunate."
The zoo, a major local employer, was quick to act when Dubbo emerged as an epicenter of coronavirus infections in the state’s west earlier this month. So far Dubbo region has recorded more than 280 cases of COVID-19, almost half of those who tested positive are young people.
Some of the zoo's self contained cabs. Source: Supplied Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
“For everybody in Dubbo, whatever they can do, whether a big or a very small thing, it all counts. Because as a regional community, we really need to react to this emergency in a cohesive fashion.”
And the zoo is not just providing shelter, chefs also prepare three hot meals a day for those staying on site.
“Our team of chefs are not cooking food for our visitors. But they are certainly more than happy to jump in and cook food for those who need it, which is the people that are staying with us.”
It’s been a rollercoaster year for the open-air wildlife park which first opened in 1977, and has attracted tourists in their thousands ever since.
After hard years of drought, a mouse plague and last year’s COVID lockdowns, in 2021 the business was finally picking up.
“We had a boom in regional tourism, like never before. And we saw over 330,000 visitors travel to Dubbo to visit Taronga Western Plains Zoo during the last financial year,” Mr Hinks tells SBS Small Business Secrets.
However, the turnaround was short lived. The zoo closed when new restrictions were imposed on August 10. Those bans have since been extended, leaving the zoo with significant costs of feeding and caring for 600 animals including tigers, giraffes and elephants.
“Zoos are incredibly complex businesses to run,” says Mr Hinks a former regional general manager of the group overseeing the Sydney Aquarium and the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb.
Steve Hinks at the zoo in Dubbo. Source: Supplied Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
“With the lockdown extending effectively for the rest of this month, the pressures come onto the business because none of our costs will disappear.”
The zoo is among hundreds of local businesses impacted by restrictions following this latest COVID outbreak.
The Lazy River Estate is a function centre at Dubbo which is counting the cost of cancelled weddings and events.
“Everyone is rescheduling. So thousands and thousands of dollars that the business was expecting to come in, unfortunately now we are not going to get that,” says owner Kristen Smith.
Mat and Krissy Smith owners of Lazy River Estate. Source: Supplied Krissy Smith.
Ms Smith also owns a gift ship in town which is closed during lockdown. The business is getting by with online sales.
However, with few winter school holiday visitors from Sydney last month, many Dubbo tourism operators are struggling.
“We were expecting some really strong numbers for people to come out into the regions. And obviously with the metropolitan lockdown, we didn't see that,” says Dubbo Chamber of Commerce President Matt Wright.
“But rural communities across Australia are very much the same. They will support each other and do what they need to do to get through.
Asian elephants at the zoo in Dubbo. Source: Supplied Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
“So, that's the beauty of the beauty of the bush, I guess.”
Steve Hinks agrees: “Whilst obviously this is a terrible situation, it's also quite inspiring to see how the local community has banded together.
“I'm very proud to live here and very proud to be part of this community, because I think the way that everybody has reacted has been quite inspiring.”
