Noosa Botanic Gardens Master Plan · Noosa Botanic Gardens Masterplan Draft Design Report

                Key Design Considerations

Botanic Collection                                                                                  Legibility and Wayfinding
Preservation, revitalisation and upgrade of the garden’s natural and botanical heritage is a key    The gardens will feature a thoughtfully designed arrivals area that creates a welcoming and
priority. The masterplan focuses on:                                                                intuitive environment for all visitors. The layout will prioritise seamless orientation for both
1.	Preservation of Significant species and collections through protecting, maintaining and          pedestrians and vehicles whilst showcasing views of Lake MacDonald and providing essential
   organising important plant species and collections                                               visitor amenity. Key features will include:
2.	Revitalisation and consolidation of the Botanical collection by enhancing the health and         1. Multiple new Nodes will be developed as well as enhancing existing nodes including:
   diversity of the collection through careful consolidation and management                            • Arrivals node. This node will immediately be recognised as a the ‘hub’ of the gardens. It
3.	Enhancing existing themed garden walks and creating new, engaging and educational                     will include open views to the lake, gathering spots, a community facility and amenities.
   garden walks that highlight specific themes and plant groupings.                                      This highly valued items in the landscape will ensure visitors acknowledge it intuitively as
All proposed works around the existing collection will be a matter of detailed design. Detailed          a focal point.
design will include the survey of existing collections and key species, discussion with Council       • Entertainment zone with the Amphitheatre at its heart
and the Friends to establish plants to be retained and collections to be consolidated or              • The Green with multiple low-key outdoor recreation options
otherwise. In general, paths will wind through the existing collection wherever possible.
                                                                                                      • Lakeside Promenade and terraces;
Modifications to the existing garden layout are guided by two key design principles:
                                                                                                      • Rainforest collections;
4.	Legibility - enhancing how users perceive and navigate the site to ensure a comfortable and
   intuitive user experience                                                                          • Lower Lakeside collections and parklands; and
5.	Accessibility - expanding accessible pathways to future-proof the gardens, making them             • Lily Pond Amphitheatre
   usable for a broader range of visitors                                                           2.	Landmarks are and are an important factor in ensuring legibility at the gardens. These
                                                                                                       include the:
Activity Zones and Functional Arrangement                                                              • Community facility




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The following zones are connected by the accessible Garden and Rainforest promenades.                 • Friends of Noosa Botanic Gardens zone
 1.	Arrivals Zone                                                                                     • Existing Hoop Pine on ‘The Green’
 2.	Friends of Noosa Botanic Gardens Zone                                                             • The existing, rejuvenated Amphitheatre.
 3.	The Green                                                                                       3.	Wayfinding elements including landscaping, markers, open views, widths of paths and roads
 4.	Botanic Playground                                                                                 and strategic signage and lighting will naturally direct visitors through the zones and nodes.
 5.	The Depot                                                                                       4.	Defined entry and exit points for vehicles and pedestrians provide important ‘edge’
 6.	Lower Lakeside                                                                                     information for users. This includes the development of:
 7.	Rainforest Zone                                                                                    • Northern Vehicle Entry Roundabout to enable a well structured vehicular flow system. It
                                                                                                          will:
Paths - intuitive, accessible
                                                                                                         • Enable smooth and efficient traffic flow upon entry
 8.	Garden Promenade - between 3-4 wide
 9.	Rainforest Promenade - 2-3m wide                                                                     • Maintain safety
 10.	Secondary paths minimum 1.5m wide                                                                   • Reduce congestion on Lake MacDonald Road
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Accessibility
A comprehensive approach across the gardens with any new work will include the upgrade of
infrastructure to foster a cohesive, user-friend environment that prioritises ease of navigation,
                                                                                                      • Southern Vehicle Exit to provide a straightforward and direct exit route.
                                                                                                      • One-Way internal road ensuring organised and consistent traffic movement lowering the
                                                                                                        risk of vehicular conflicts.
                                                                                                    Throughout the remainder of the gardens, paths will be upgraded to ensure that pedestrian
safety and accessibility for all visitors: The masterplan focuses on:                               movement is intuitive and practical including:
1.	Major universally accessible pathways - wide pathways, creating intuitive and comfortable        5. New and upgraded Paths
   pedestrian journeys through the site.                                                               • A maximum 4m wide Garden Promenade path that is visually different to other paths, for
2.	Infrastructure - a number of new items are planned for the gardens including a Community              example may have botanical markings and/or significant narrative stories embedded, will
   Facility and Universally accessible amenities block in the arrivals zone. In addition,                be the primary accessible route that takes all visitors through the northern side of the
   appropriately spaced and placed benches, walkways, ramps and handrails will be an                     gardens.
   important component of any upgraded or newly designed zones.
                                                                                                      • A 3m wide promenade path with similar, but different markings will be part of the
                                                                                                        Southern gardens ensuring access for all through the Rainforest collection.
Infrastructure ‘Future Proofing’
To ensure the gardens are resilient to future growth and are climate change adaptable the           Cultural and Heritage Considerations
following major initiatives are proposed:
                                                                                                    The Traditional Custodians of the Botanic Gardens are the Kabi Kabi people. This land holds
1. Creation of a Community Facility/kiosk/shelter at the arrivals zone, including a new             deep cultural and spiritual significance for them. The site has also served as the Noosa Botanic
   Amenities block                                                                                  Gardens for almost 40 years and is highly valued by the broader Noosa community, particularly
2. Development of a major maximum 4m wide accessible ‘Garden promenade’ throughout the              those in and around Cooroy. The masterplan aims to create landscapes, gardens, spaces
   Northern portion of the gardens                                                                  and facilities that can support cultural events, ceremonies, and gatherings and encourage
3. Development of a number of 3m wide accessible ‘Rainforest promenades’ throughout the             storytelling, cultural exchange, and education.
   Southern portion of the gardens
                                                                                                    The site’s historical significance as a Botanic Garden is important to the community. Many of
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4. Relocation of the Council depot and Friends Nursery                                              the existing plantings include rare or threatened species, original collections, or specimens
5. Upgraded security and lighting systems                                                           donated by individuals who have played a key role in the Garden’s development.
6. Expansion of carparking facilities, incorporating both formal and nature based options            1. The Hoop Pine, planted in 1935 by the Powell family, is listed on the National Trust register
7. Refurbishment of the existing Amphitheatre                                                           of Significant Trees and as such holds immense value to visitors and managers of the
8. Integration of the Northern Parklands with the existing Botanical Gardens                            gardens. There are many other species whose value is significant.
9. Creation of a more sunny, open spaces to diversity plant collections and provide areas for        2. Any potential removal of tree species will carefully consider their historical, botanical, and
   picnicking and recreational activities                                                               cultural significance and be done in consultation with appropriate stakeholders
10. Development and consolidation of a climate relief zone along the waters edge
11. Development of a Children’s Botanic Playground and Leaning zone




                                NOOSA BOTANIC GARDENS
                                MASTERPLAN
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