The development of a Hamilton Zoo Master Plan has been pushed back a year from its original timeframe.
Zoo director Stephen Standley told Hamilton News last August that the development of a Zoo Master Plan aimed to prevent a future decline in revenue and increase support for the attraction.
Standley, who was involved in Auckland Zoo's master plan, said at the time that it was similar to a spatial plan.
"It is identifying what the development will look like in the various areas of the zoo, but it would also set some parameters around that which might include what the planting is going to look like, what is the layout? It is going to be looking at service facilities, the best routes for visitor flow through the zoo."
Last August, Council said the aim was to have a draft master plan completed in September and October and presented to the Strategy and Policy Committee in November in time for the Long Term Plan so any funding could be allocated.
However, Hamilton City Council's general manager community Lance Vervoort said the plan did not progress for formal consideration in what is now the current 10-Year Plan due to capital budget constraints.
"The Hamilton Zoo Masterplan was developed in 2014. It is a 10-year plan that sets out an ambitious upgrade and management plan for Hamilton Zoo," said Vervoort.
He said it "has always been considered this would be brought forward in the next annual plan round for discussion.
"The intention of the plan is to refresh and upgrade zoo facilities; that could include creating new and interesting environments for the displays and animal exhibits, and implement a much better spatial plan across the whole zoo site, which we feel will deliver new learning opportunities and increase visitors to the zoo."
Vervoort said the plan is now scheduled for Council discussion on December 8 at the Strategy and Policy Committee.
In Council's 2004/2005 Annual Report it stated that one of its " long-term 10 Year Horizon" key performance measures for the zoo was to reach 200,000 visits by 2013/14. The 2013/14 Annual Report stated that its visits target was 120,000.