Wagga City Council has released more details about why it closed the zoo and aviary in the Botanic Gardens on weekdays, blaming the cost of cleaning fences to prevent coronavirus spread.
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General manager Peter Thompson said the reduced open days were a temporary response to COVID-19 heath rules and unfavourable weather and shorter days over winter.
"Zoos are regulated by the Department of Primary Industries [which] has requested we put together a robust COVID Safe plan," he said.
"Because the attendances during the week were relatively low and cleaning the mesh wires and such that people lean against came at quite significant cost, the decision was made to temporarily close the zoo during those weekdays."
Mr Thompson said the zoo would be cleaned on weekends when it was open and the decision to close on weekdays would be reviewed over time as the weather got warmer and daylight hours increased.
The council announced last week that the zoo would no longer open on weekdays, effective from Thursday, which prompted a lot of negative reactions.
One Wagga parent, who asked not to be named, said it "most certainly" was inconvenient to lose access on weekdays.
"I take my daughter there regularly on a weekday and she loves it," he said.
"With other commitments it's often hard to get there on the weekend. I find a weekday is perfect for younger children.
"It's not as busy and gives them an opportunity to get up close to the animals and enjoy the experience a lot more"
Mr Thompson said 35 people visited the zoo on a rainy Saturday and 130 on Sunday, which had "better but not great" weather.
A NSW Department of Primary Industries spokesman said that NSW Health COVID-19 guidelines would apply to Wagga's zoo.
"NSW DPI requires businesses which exhibit animals have a COVID-19 plan, which is developed by the business according to the NSW Health guidelines," he said.
"NSW DPI officers could approach the business and ask to see the COVID-19 plan.
"To date NSW DPI has not asked the Wagga Zoo and Aviary at the Botanic Gardens for its COVID-19 plan."