In developing a masterplan for the Cairns Botanic Gardens, Cairns Regional Council’s Senior Project Officer, Kathryn Johnson, said community consultation, early identification of potential issues, and developing relationships with statutory authorities was critical.
Cairns Botanic Gardens is home to the Flecker Gardens, incorporating the Botanic Gardens Restaurant and Munro Martin Fernery, the Tanks Arts Centre and the Centenary Lakes, which includes both freshwater and saltwater lakes. The entire gardens precinct is considered to be a fundamental part of the city fabric, and as such, Council believed it needed to be transformed and better integrated.
In 2003, Council engaged consultants to develop a masterplan for the gardens that would create a quality, regional level cultural and environmental precinct suitable for use all year round. An analysis of the entire site and its operations was undertaken, and a development strategy diagram was constructed, illustrating broad scale planning ideas, possible uses for the site and linkages to other areas of the city.
A draft masterplan was then developed, followed by the adoption of the Cairns Botanic Gardens Masterplan in 2005. The plan detailed 40 packages of work totalling over $30 million, to be rolled out over ten to 15 years as funding becomes available.
Phase 1 of the masterplan is expected to be completed around April next year. Major works already completed under Phase 1 include realignment of the main access road (Collins Avenue) through the precinct, which required significant works for the preparation, removal and transplanting of trees within the new alignment. In addition, a street located adjacent to the gardens was closed to vehicles, allowing for a seamless landscaped link between the gardens and the arts centre. An eastern carpark was also developed, creating 80 additional spaces and works are now continuing on the creation of a visitor centre and hubs.
Future works include:
- expansion of the restaurant
- a new conservatory and fern house
- realignment of the Red Arrow walking track
- boardwalks, shelters, pathways
- improved parking and pedestrian links
- extensive landscaping.
Kathryn Johnson said Council identified early in the process that any development in the precinct needed to be done sympathetically to maintain the environmental values of the precinct and blend in with the natural environment.
“However, towards the end of 2005, parts of the Botanic Gardens Precinct were provisionally listed on the Queensland Heritage Register, providing significant challenges,” she said. “Council lodged a series of objections to the provisional listing, and worked closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Queensland Heritage Council (QHC) to enable works to progress during the listing process.
“The QHC granted Council an exemption certificate to enable the realignment of Collins Avenue to occur, while the independent review took place. This enabled Council to progress with critical works to ensure that implementation of the masterplan could begin.”
The QHC has since permanently listed all five of the Arts Centre tanks, their support structures and the Flecker Gardens onto the Queensland Heritage Register.
Kathryn Johnson said this is a positive outcome for Council and the gardens precinct.
“Cairns Regional Council will continue to work with the State Heritage Council to ensure a positive outcome is achieved and that the level of development throughout the precinct is managed such that the cultural heritage values are enhanced,” she said.
A comprehensive community engagement program has also been crucial to the project’s delivery.
“Feedback has been sought throughout the project, and although we only received a small response to the draft masterplan, comments offered were invaluable in assisting the design team to assess community
feeling for the site’s development,” Kathryn Johnson said. “Throughout the life of the masterplan, a comprehensive list of stakeholders has been gathered. Leading up to the commencement of construction, weekly emails were sent to stakeholders advising what to expect
once construction commenced and the likely sequence of works.
“Regular email updates to stakeholders has continued during construction and as milestones approach and are met, updates are provided. Using email enables direct and immediate contact with stakeholders and allows them to respond if issues arise during construction.”
For further information contact John Burton, Project Officer, on (07) 4044 3044.
