NOOSA BOTANIC GARDENS MASTERPLAN · Report

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                               9 JUNE 2026


•   Lower Lakeside
•   Rainforest Zone
•   Paths - intuitive, accessible
•   Garden Promenade - between 3m to 4m wide (some routes require occasional service vehicle
    access)
•   Rainforest Promenade - 2-3m wide
•   Secondary paths minimum 1 .5m wide
Visitor Support Facilities
Key to the value proposition for the gardens is improved visitor support facilities to better enjoy and
appreciate the Botanic Gardens:
•   Creation of arrivals zone with an improved visitor entry experience including an appropriately
    scaled community facility/kiosk/shelter and amenities, supplemented by the adjacent Friends of
    the Noosa Botanic Gardens Zone
•   Provision of a wide accessible ‘Garden promenade’ throughout the northern portion of the
    gardens
•   Provision of a wide accessible ‘Rainforest promenade’ throughout the southern portion of the
    gardens
•   Relocation of the Council depot and Friends Nursery from valuable elevated space better served
    for park visitors
•   Refurbishment of the existing Amphitheatre
•   Integration of the Northern Parklands (Lake Macdonald Park) with the existing Botanical Gardens
    to ensure a seamless parkland experience
•   Development of a Children’s Botanic Playground and learning zone to diversify visitor
    demography and instil intergenerational interest in the gardens
•   Creation of more sunny, open spaces to diversity plant collections and provide areas for
    picnicking and informal recreational activities
•   Development and consolidation of a climate relief zone along the water’s edge to provide
    valuable shade in waterside setting during heatwaves
•   Upgraded security and lighting systems
•   Modest expansion of carparking facilities, incorporating both formal and nature-based options
Legibility and Accessibility
A comprehensive approach for the upgrade of pathways is proposed to foster a cohesive, user-
friendly environment that prioritises ease of navigation, safety and accessibility for all visitors:
•   Major universally accessible pathways - wide pathways, creating intuitive and comfortable
    pedestrian journeys through the site
•   Legibility - enhancing how users perceive and navigate the site to ensure a comfortable and
    intuitive user experience
•   Accessibility - expanding inclusive, equitable, safe, accessible pathways to future-proof the
    gardens, making them usable for a broader range of visitors
•   Appropriately spaced and placed benches, walkways, ramps and handrails will be an important
    component of any upgraded or newly designed zones