Australian billionaire Clive Palmer has been granted approval to build a Jurassic Park-style attraction on the Sunshine Coast. The Palmer Coolum Resort Dinosaur Park will boast 160 animatronic dinosaurs including an eight-metre Tyrannosaurus Rex called Jeff.
[credit provider=”Universal Pictures” url=”http://www.universalpictures.com/”]
Despite concerns that the dino park could detract from prestigious golf tournaments at the resort’s adjoining golf course, Sunshine Coast Regional Council approved Palmer’s application yesterday. The 160 dinosaur replicas will be installed in and around the resort’s existing vegetation.
If his dream projects are anything to go by, Palmer is every bit as eccentric as the billionaire magnate from Jurassic Park. According to some reports, Palmer originally wanted to clone real dinosaurs from DNA and had even been in contact with the scientists who cloned Dolly the sheep (thankfully, the final plan will utilise less peckish roboticic replicas).
In May last year, Palmer also commissioned a Chinese shipyard to build a historically accurate replica of the Titanic cruise liner, complete with authentic looking smokestacks. We’re kind of excited to see what the guy announces next.