COMMONWEALTH land at Birkdale - which council has been negotiating to buy for years - has been tipped as a home for the Alma Park Zoo.
APZ spokesman John Quinn said the Redlands was a strategic location with a catchment that included Brisbane, Logan, the Gold Coast and Ipswich as well as the local population.
"Redlands shares the same values as APZ in many respects with emphasis on the sustainability of the environment, the recognition of our cultural heritage and education being the cornerstone of our future," Mr Quinn said.
"Redlands is also readily accessible with good connectivity to the Gateway Motorway."
Mr Quinn said the re-establishment of the zoo would cost between $10 million and $12 million.
About 50 hectares of land that were well connected to public transport were needed.
Federal MP Andrew Laming said he had encouraged talks between the APZ owners and Redland City Council after a Logan site for the zoo became unavailable.
Mr Laming said the Birkdale land was a potential site. Council has been in talks with the federal government to buy the land for years. The issue became increasingly contentious last year, when mention was made in budget papers of the bushland being divested in 2019-2020.
"The property divested can support up to 400 homes and will increase the supply of land for housing in metropolitan Brisbane," the budget said.
The comment angered Cr Williams who started a petition - that had garnered 6500 signatures by February - to stop the federal government selling the land for houses.
Mr Laming said the potential location of the zoo at Birkdale was not a decision for himself or any state MP.
"It's solely a decision for council," he said.
"I am determined to allow council to complete its purchase of that land and, after that point, applications of use like the Alma Park Zoo will be a community decision."
Mr Laming said there could be multiple uses of the land.
"While a university had always been a one in a million possibility, a university presence is not out of the question," he said.
"The focus of the new zoo will be to bring the latest technology available and to collaborate with tertiary education facilities."
We have also been approached by other parties outside of Redland and will weigh up the benefits of each location on offer before making any commitments.
- Alma Park Zoo spokesman John Quinn
Mayor Karen Williams said the council would look at any idea that had the potential to benefit the city but officers were exploring where the zoo could go, rather than whether it could go on the Birkdale land.
"I have always said that if council is successful in acquiring the land we would engage with the community and I remain committed to that," Cr Williams said.
"As yet that engagement hasn't occurred so suggesting uses for the land is premature.
"Our focus remains on acquiring this land for the community, what then happens with it will be for the community to decide."
Cr Williams said council officers were looking at the options available for the zoo.
"Councillors have not met with the proponents and before anything is decided we would want to look closely at what officers come back with," she said.
Mr Quinn said talks with Redland City Council were preliminary.
"We have also been approached by other parties outside of Redland and will weigh up the benefits of each location on offer before making any commitments," he said.
Mr Quinn would not comment on sites in the Redlands being considered.
He said the owners had no expectations regarding timeframes for the zoo.
"We are keen to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure the end result is a facility of national significance," he said.
A council spokesperson said an informal discussion about the Alma Park Zoo relocation had taken place between council officers and the zoo owners.
No formal proposal was being considered by council.
"Any future considerations by council about its role in the possible relocation of Alma Park Zoo would be dependent on further talks and a formal proposal being presented," the spokesperson said.
"Redland City Council aims to deliver economic prosperity to our region through sustained business growth and attracting new investment to our city.
"Council's doors are always open to discussions relating to economic opportunity, innovation and drawing visitors to Redlands Coast."
Mr Laming said a zoo would bring an economic and employment boost to the Redlands.
"A zoo is the one of the few assets which would pull tourism towards the Moreton Bay and could serve as an educational and tourism experience for not only the communities of Redland City, Logan City and Ipswich but for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year," he said.
"This could be a game-changer for Redlands with jobs, skills, tourism and animal husbandry."
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