It's an exciting time for Wollongong Botanic Garden, with a diverse range of tourism, education, and event providers putting their hand up to be part of a new era for one of Wollongong's most iconic locations.
Following adoption of a new Wollongong Botanic Garden Masterplan in November last year, Council undertook a Request for Proposals (RFP) process to gauge commercial interest in providing new activations for the Garden.
Interest was sought from experienced operators proposing innovative, community-focused activations that aligned with the sustainability and ecotourism principles of the Garden. Assessment criteria also included a commitment to minimising the environmental impact of proposed operations.
From eight submissions received, Council has determined proposals for monthly themed markets and an annual food and beverage festival, nature therapy walks, and a food-based environmental education program warrant further exploration.
Council also endorsed a proposal to enter direct negotiations with Treeclimb, an environmental education and nature-based eco-tourism provider, to explore further aspects of its proposal before lodgement of a Development Application. This initial proposal includes a small café as part of their operations.
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown thanked all proponents for their time in submitting their proposals.
"We received a wide and varied range of proposals, which is what we anticipated and had hoped for," Cr Brown said.
"The Botanic Garden is a much-loved asset for visitors and residents alike, and the delivery of the Masterplan was long-awaited by many. It was very exciting to move to the RFP process to explore new ways to enhance what we offer.
"We've attracted interest from commercial providers with a regional reach, to more locally based submissions, which illustrates the breadth of opportunities the Garden offers for all manner of activities.
"The TreeClimb proposal certainly offers something new with potential to expand the Garden's appeal beyond Wollongong. It warrants further investigation to ensure that it can be implemented and operated in a way that aligns with community expectations and the vision outlined in the Masterplan.
"Other proposals, like markets and nature-based educational programs can be well integrated into the garden's existing offering, and we look forward to further exploring these proposals as we look to shape a new chapter for one of our most prized community assets."
