The project recently received a grant from the Great Southern Development Commission under the Regional Grant Scheme.

Stage Three is expected to begin next month with earthmoving equipment from local firm AD Contractors Pty Ltd creating roads, car parks and ponds.

Last year there was unanimous approval of a development application for the $770,000 project by City of Albany Councillors.

Despite retiring last December after 13 years as general manager of the iconic heritage attraction, Les Bail has been retained as project manager.

He has deferred a planned relocation to Bunbury to take on the project.

“I am really pleased to continue my involvement with this exciting part of the site’s long-term development,” Mr Bail said

“This is the culmination of nearly four years of planning and community consultation.”

Stage Three will allow Whale World’s operators - The Jaycees Community Foundation Incorporated - to seek third party benefactor funding for Stage Four of the project.

This will be a floracopia, a creation of living murals of regional wildflowers.

This will be followed by Stage Five, a partly subterranean nocturnal house.

Stage Five is planned to focus on endangered fauna species for the faunatopia exhibit.

The 20 hectare site will ultimately be promoted under the name “Discovery Bay” recognising the heritage connection with Captain George Vancouver’s ship Discovery which was re-watered from a spring on the site in 1793.

Whale World general manager Glenn Russell said despite the focus on the new development, maintaining the well-known name and image of Whale World as one of Australia’s most significant heritage attractions was extremely important.

The $380,000 grant from the GSDC follows a previous contribution towards the Albany Biodiversity Park feasibility study and the construction of the fauna captive breeding and rehabilitation facility.