Plans that would see the world’s biggest chocolate fountain built at Hobart’s Cadbury factory have reportedly been dropped.

Developer Simon Currant told The Mercury the media had blown up the idea, and that there had never been firm plans for the fountain.

“We dropped that out long ago,” he said.

“It was stupid because everyone concentrated on a bloody chocolate fountain.

“It was just part of the ideas we had at the time, nearly two years ago.”

That being said, Mr Currant didn’t rule out that the plans for the fountain may be added back in.

The announcement comes as Cadbury moves closer to realising its $100 million Willy Wonka-esque tourist attraction at its Claremont, Hobart, factory in Tasmania. In March 2024 Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff promised $12 million in government funding to the project, and at the same time did announce the Chocolate Experience would include the “world’s tallest ‘glass-and-a-half’chocolate fountain.

The Tasmanian Planning Commission has also given its approval to the attraction, and will allow for the rezoning that will allow developers to draw up their development application, according to The Mercury.

In its decision, which was published earlier this month, the commission noted the Cadbury Visitor Experience would include a time tunnel that explored Cadbury’s century of chocolate heritage and accomplishments; arboretum of live cocoa trees; a taste kitchen; factory control room; chocolate lab where visitors could participate in real time taste testing; build your own bar experience; mass ingredient barn; chocolate lounge; chocolate emporium; and playground.

The Cadbury factory initially operated popular tours from 1958 until 2016, with the process being stopped due to the introduction of new food and workplace safety regulations.

Work on the new visitor experience is expected to begin late next year, with an opening date in 2027 anticipated.