The private home of National Zoo and Aquarium owner Richard Tindale will be remodelled into a 10-room lodge-style hotel as part of the proposed $20 million redevelopment.

Under the expansion, the capital's zoo will triple in size and 24 five-star hotel rooms will be built within the park. The redevelopment has been a long time coming, with the possibility of expanding into a neighbouring block of about 18ha first raised more than six years ago. A direct land grant from the ACT Government three years ago made the expansion possible and the designs have taken more than two years to complete.

Mr Tindale said work would begin early next year, once building approval was granted. The expansion could take up to two years and would create an additional 15 full-time jobs.

The first stage would cost $5.5million and includes transforming the owner's residence and the construction of open range exhibits for rhinoceros, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, antelope and deer as well as a hotel dining room adjoining the lion's den. Building plans for Stage 1 were lodged with the National Capital Authority this week and the designs also show four lodge-style huts with eight rooms on an open African-style savannah.

Staying in the zoo will cost visitors between $900 to $1200 a room for one night. The price would include all meals and three up-close and personal animal tours.

''The market will determine it [the price]. I don't know what will be happening in a year, so it's an estimate,'' Mr Tindale said.

The number of animals in the park would not increase next year but the expansion would give them more room to roam.

The lion enclosure would expand from about 1000sqm to 7000sqm.

''Some of these things will take three months, others 12 months - they will open as they're finished,'' Mr Tindale said. During the second stage of the redevelopment, the existing aquarium would be upgraded and six tree-house suites would be built to overlook the Molonglo river. As part of the revamp, barbecue areas, cabanas, toilets and viewing areas would all be upgraded.

The redevelopment aims to give visitors and hotel guests a more personal experience.

''Every room will interact with animals,'' Mr Tindale said.

The hotel and resort accommodation would help fund the zoo's expansion and conservation work.

''The United Nations are forecasting that 25 per cent of all species are going to be extinct in the next 30 years, so the role of zoos is - apart from trying to keep some of those species alive with breeding programs - just to educate people on what they can do,'' he said. ''We believe the closer people can get to the animals, the more impact it has on them.''

The National Capital Authority approved a new master plan of the site in August.

The National Zoo and Aquarium is in a designated area, which means proposed works require authority approval. The development application will open for public comment next week. Visit http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/