Waterways Wildlife Park is determined to get its gates open again.
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Jodi Small is preparing an application for a public exhibitor licence, which will be submitted to the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
Ms Small submitted a pre-application in February and received feedback from the DPI via letter late last week.
The DPI has asked Waterways to supply more information including a business plan, operational plan, staff qualifications, population of animals and details of veterinary care.
Ms Small has been told she can submit the paperwork with the application for a public exhibitor licence.
“I’m going to push it by the end of next week,” she said.
“There's a lot of paperwork to do.”
A NSW DPI spokesman said an application for a public exhibitor licence must include a plan of the establishment including the location of the enclosures; details of each enclosure that are proposed to be used; a species list, and their associated diets and identification methods; details of who will undertake routine veterinary inspections; details of an education proposal; and details of the staffing and their experience.
“An on-site inspection also occurs before a licence is issued,” the spokesperson said.
Waterways was closed by NSW DPI in April 2017 because of compliance matters. It currently has a Native Animal Keeper Licence, which was granted by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in November 2017. The licence will expire at the end of April and Ms Small is hoping the park can get an extension because of the processing time for the public exhibitor licence.
A National Parks and Wildlife Service spokesperson it could currently only confirm that Waterways has a licence to the end of April.
Ms Small said the Waterways team was pushing on through.
“I think it’s a combined effort; a lot of people are helping,” she said.
“We’re giving our best informed shot at it.”
Waterways is still in need of volunteers to help keep the park running.
“Anyone who is over 18 and is willing to learn,” Ms Small said.
Contact Waterways on 6742 1826.
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