Perth open range zoo scrapped due to cost

The West Australian government has scrapped plans by the former Liberal government to establish an open range zoo on Perth's fringe, claiming it is unaffordable given the state's budget woes.

Premier Mark McGowan said on Wednesday Labor was never committed to the idea because while former premier Colin Barnett gave it a $200 million price tag, he suspected it would cost up to $1 billion.

Opposition leader Mike Nahan said it was a long-term project and the Liberals would look at it again "down the track".