Visitors to the popular Rockhampton Zoo will now see the resident perenties, the largest of Australia's monitor lizards, in a new enclosure, thanks to the Palaszczuk Government's signature $600 million Works for Queensland program.
Acting Premier and Minister for Local Government Steven Miles officially opened the new home for the perenties, made possible with a $320,000 allocation.
"The perentie is Australia's biggest lizard and one of the largest on the planet, so the ones living here at Rockhampton Zoo are certainly worth seeing," Mr Miles said.
"Works for Queensland funding has enabled these incredible reptiles to be comfortably displayed for locals and visitors to this beautiful city.
"Across the State, Works for Queensland is has created or supported over 20,000 jobs, with Queenslanders employed to work on more than 1,860 projects.
"This is part of our plan for economic recovery in Queensland, to create jobs and upgrade infrastructure in our communities."
Member for Rockhampton Barry O'Rourke said the program was making a difference to the local community.
"Across the three rounds of the program, Rockhampton Regional Council has received more than $27.2 million to help deliver 38 projects which have created or supported over 800 jobs so far," Mr O'Rourke said.
"That's a tremendous result for the local economy and for local families."
Assistant Minister for Education and Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga said the zoo was one of the most loved attractions in Rockhampton.
"The Works for Queensland program continues to have an enormously positive impact here and throughout regional Queensland," Ms Lauga said.
"Building this new enclosure is great for the animals but also great for tourism."
The new perentie enclosure includes ponds, plants, rock piles and log piles for the lizards to climb on, and heated rocks to keep them warm in winter.
Rockhampton Regional Councillor Cherie Rutherford joined the Acting Premier at the Zoo for the opening of the enclosure.
"The new enclosure will be a fantastic addition to this wonderful public facility," Cr Rutherford said.
"The Zoo receives 150,000 visitors each year. More than 77,000 of these are from outside the city and most stay overnight, bringing $27.8 million dollars into the local economy.
"I thank the Queensland Government for its support through Works for Queensland, assisting Council to deliver these types of projects for the community."
The Acting Premier also took the opportunity to inspect the new pathways being constructed at the adjacent Botanic Gardens, made possible with $450,000 from the Works for Queensland program.
