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NOOSA BOTANIC GARDENS MASTERPLAN

Parks and Streetscapes Coordinator, Geordie Lascelles · Civil Assets & Operations | Infrastructure Services Department

Executive summary

• The report presents the final draft Masterplan (Attachment 1) for the Noosa Botanic Gardens at Lake Macdonald for Council approval. • The draft Masterplan builds off the draft 2017 Vision Statement that was prepared by Council for the gardens in collaboration with community stakeholders. • The draft plan has been prepared by landscape architecture consultants with key inputs from an external Stakeholder Reference Group, and internal Council working group, and informed by a two phased Community Engagement program. • The preparation of the draft masterplan has been iterative over the last 24 months considering diverse feedback and provides a revised vision and objectives with a realistic long-term plan for upgrades and improvements over the next 25 years, ensuring the gardens’ botanical legacy and ongoing value to the local and broader community. • Major features of the plan include preservation and enhancement of the botanic collection, creation of an improved visitor entry experience, improved facilities for the Friends of the Botanic Gardens, creation of a primary grade accessible wayfinding pathway around the gardens, improved activity zones that support a variety of users as well as cultural heritage considerations. • The plan will be a key platform to prioritise available future operational funds, as well as attract grant funding from multiple sources. • The plan provides a strategic framework for future planting and collection development, through a Living Collection Management Plan that also informs detailed design stages of the Masterplan implementation. Staff will start the scoping for the project working group and terms of reference including selection of representatives from internal and external parties. • It is proposed that this finalised draft be approved. A summary of submissions received through both phases of engagement, and changes to the draft Masterplan are presented for Council consideration and for adoption of the finalised plan.

Recommendation

That Council

  1. Note the report by the Parks and Streetscapes Coordinator to the General Committee dated 9 June 2026 outlining the Phase 2 Engagement summary and the finalised draft Masterplan for the Noosa Botanic Gardens;
  2. Note the Masterplan's proposed use to inform ongoing future operational and capital works program budgets including sourcing funding from external grants; and
  3. Approve the finalised Masterplan for the Noosa Botanic Gardens provided at Attachment 1.

Report

Background

Council budgeted for the preparation of a Noosa Botanic Gardens Masterplan in the 2023/24 Financial Year, building on the 2017 Noosa Botanic Gardens Masterplan Stage 1: Vision document. The key purpose of the Masterplan is to engage with the community to develop a shared long-term plan for upgrades and improvements over the next 25 years, ensuring the gardens’ botanical legacy and ongoing value to the local and broader community. In late 2023, Consultants, O2LA, were appointed to initiate this process, assist with the consultation and drafting of the plan in collaboration with community and Council stakeholders. The planning was designed to take place over two phases: Phase 1 Visioning and Ideas Gathering, and Phase 2 Engagement on the draft Masterplan and finalisation of the plan. The draft vision determined for the gardens in collaboration with stakeholders is “to cultivate a vibrant botanical garden that reflects the community’s values - working with nature, now and for the future”.

Existing Conditions The Noosa Botanic Gardens on the shores of Lake Macdonald is a valuable amenity space for residents and visitors that has an increasing valuable botanical collection in a stunning waterside setting. It is increasing recognised for its value for both Cooroy and Noosa residents. Its evolution to date has been largely incidental originally evolving from a community led initiative. There is significant opportunity to improve the setting and recognition of the botanical collection, as well as improve visitor facilities to make the space more accessible and comfortable for all. In addition, aging infrastructure and substandard pathways require investment to rectify established defects. The preparation of the Masterplan has been informed by an External Stakeholder Reference Group, an internal working group of Council staff, as well as Phase 1 community engagement program and Phase 2 Engagement and finalisation of the plan. In addition, targeted engagement has occurred with First Nations representatives from the Kabi Kabi Peoples Aboriginal Corporation.

ENGAGEMENT

External Stakeholder Refence Group To guide the delivery of the Masterplan process, Council appointed a voluntary community stakeholder reference group in a voluntary capacity including Friends of the Gardens representatives and various local and regional community groups and associations. The purpose of the group was to provide advice and strategic direction for the development of the Masterplan as it evolved. Members of the group has included representatives from: • Councillors - Cr Finzel (Chair), Cr Phillips, Cr Lorentson • Friends of Noosa Botanic Gardens • SEQ Water • Noosa Hinterland Residents Association • Cooroy Area Residents Association • Cooroy Future Group (Cooroy Butter Factory) • Outdoor Queensland • Tourism Noosa The Cooroy Chamber of Commerce was also invited to participate but declined from attending due to other priorities but expressed an interest in being kept up to date as the plan evolved. Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce were actively involved in the Phase 2 pop-up in Maple Street, Cooroy. Formed in March 2024, initial one on one meetings with members were held to assist consultants understanding of stakeholders' interests. Four formal meetings have been held in June, July and November 2024 and April 2025. An additional meeting was held with representatives from the Friends of the Gardens in June 2025 to discuss and resolve specific considerations. Further meetings with the group were scheduled following Phase 2 community engagement to broadly consider feedback and then review and comment on the updated plan on the 2 March 2026 and 27 April 2026.

Cultural Engagement An onsite meeting was conducted with representatives of the Kabi Kabi Peoples Aboriginal Corporation in September which has also lead enhancements to the Draft Masterplan.

Community engagement - Phase 1 Public engagement for Phase 1 predominantly took place in September 2024, with the aim of understanding the collective vision, values, aspirations, and ideas of the local community to inform the draft Masterplan. Additional, early stakeholder engagement was also conducted, with key stakeholders including members of the Stakeholder Reference Group. This included both one on one conversations and workshops.

How we engaged • One on one interviews with 15 key community stakeholders • Noosa Heads Tourist Info Centre walk through • Your Say Noosa survey • Email submissions • Two community pop-ups in the Gardens on the 1 and 7 September 2024, leveraging off the Guided and Shade Garden walks, Music in the Gardens and Plant Sale

How we communicated • “Stakeholder Engagement Pack” consisting of postcards and poster distributed to SRG members for promotion to networks • Displays at Noosaville and Cooroy Library • Posters at Aquatic and Recreation Centres • Promotion of pop-ups, Friends events and opportunity to engage via Council’s social media channels, E-News, Your Say subscriber database and print media (Cooroy Rag, Noosa Today) • Media Release and the Council website

How we went • A total of 101 people completed the online survey of which 88 identified themselves as Noosa Shire Council ratepayers. • The main demographic of survey were Noosa Shire residents aged 55+, with community group members, business owners, workers and visitors also participating. • Hundreds of submissions were recorded at the pop ups and 1 on 1 interviews.

What we heard The following graphic summarises key community feedback from this process: A draft Masterplan was developed informed by an External Stakeholder Reference Group, an internal working group of Council staff, as well as Phase 1 community engagement program. Council approved the draft to be released for the next phase of community engagement following a report by the Parks and Streetscapes Coordinator to the Services & Organisation Committee dated

September 2025.

Community engagement - Phase 2 Public engagement for Phase 2 for the Draft Noosa Botanic Gardens Masterplan was delivered from

October to 7 November 2025 and generated more than 120 contributions, including 80 online surveys, 23 written submissions and 21 pieces of anecdotal feedback captured through activations and pop-ups. Engagement activities included a Cooroy community pop-up, a series of wellbeing activations within the Gardens (art therapy, nature therapy, nature play and yoga), targeted stakeholder meetings, and a coordinated communications campaign supported by media, social media and newsletters. Overall feedback demonstrated a high level of support for the Draft Masterplan. Of the 80 survey respondents, 91% indicated they support the proposed 25-year long-term vision for the Gardens. Community input focused primarily on refining and clarifying elements already included in the draft rather than proposing major changes. Consistent themes across all engagement channels included: • Protecting and strengthening the botanical collections and long-term stewardship • Maintaining the Gardens’ tranquillity and natural character • Improving accessibility, pathways and wayfinding • Enhancing comfort and amenity such as shade, seating, shelters and toilets • Clarifying dog access, lake use and the 25-year implementation timeframe • Recognising the ongoing role of the Friends of Noosa Botanic Gardens The findings indicate strong alignment between the Draft Masterplan and community feedback. Targeted refinements were recommended to improve clarity, strengthen stewardship and partnership recognition, and reinforce the Plan’s long-term direction prior to Council consideration of the finalised plan in 2026.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES MADE FOLLOWING PHASE 2 ENGAGEMENT

The following changes were made to the Draft Masterplan following the Phase 2 Engagement and external stakeholder reference group meetings. • Inclusion of reference to creation of a Living Collection Management Plan • Improved climate change adaptability actions • Highlighting continued support for dog on leash walking and activities • Increased car park spaces within the gardens and in the northern boat ramp precent • Provision of a larger pavilion by the lake for all weather functions and public use • Increase in size of the community centre from 70m2 to 100m2 • Areas for new botanic collections identified • Potential for partial filling of large (fish hatchery) lake • Improved clarity on the operational decision-making, investment prioritisation and staged investment strategy • Potential for increased plants sale frequency from the Friends of Noosa Botanic Gardens propagation facility Following the final meeting of the external stakeholder reference group on 27 April 2026, the following items were clarified on the finalised plan: • Strengthening connection to surrounding localities and activities including the Noosa Trail Network & trail head • Inclusive, equitable, safe and independent accessibility imbedded as a core design principle with refined definition extending beyond physical accessibility • Best practice erosion management techniques utilised • Identification of increased formalised car and trailer parks for the boat ramp area • Increased public art opportunities

OUTCOMES

The Masterplan serves as a guiding document, addressing key design consideration informed by community engagement to set a framework for both operational decisions, as well as priority for future capital investment if funds are gained through Council budget allocations or grant funding. The timeframe for implementation of plan is 25 years, and this long-term time frame has been consistently articulated to stakeholders. Any subsequent detailed design planning for works will also be subject to ongoing community and stakeholder engagement, strategically informed by the Masterplan. Adaptive, flexible and responsive design over that period in the implementation of the Masterplan, will help the gardens and its community to respond to its changing needs. In terms of immediate operational decisions, the Operational Decision-Making & Staged Investment Strategy contained within the plan will support current and future site managers and caretakers in setting operational priorities and establishing timelines for the design and implementation of projects. The matrix also provides transparency to key stakeholders such as the Friends of the Noosa Botanic Gardens about their opportunity for involvement in operational decisions.

KEY DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

The draft Masterplan is included as Attachment 1 to the Report. Key inclusions in the plan are listed below:

Activity Zones and Functional Arrangement The following zones are connected by the accessible Garden and Rainforest promenades. • Arrivals Zone • Friends of Noosa Botanic Gardens Zone • The Green • Botanic Playground • 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

Botanical Collection The original impetus of the preservation of this open space was the community led creation of a botanic gardens, and this is a fundamental premise of the draft Masterplan. • Preservation of significant species and collections through protecting, maintaining and organising important plant species and collections • Revitalisation and consolidation of the Botanical collection by enhancing the health and diversity of the collection through careful consolidation and management • Enhancing existing themed garden walks and creating new, engaging and educational garden walks that highlight specific themes and plant groupings. • Development of a Living Collection Management Plan The Living Collection Management Plan will include the establishment of a Project Working Group to guide short-term development of the Plan, and will address: • Thematic planning and interpretation of the botanic collections • Review and evaluation of existing collections • Identification of gaps within the current living collections • Preparation of a comprehensive Collection Management Plan, including criteria for accessioning, removal of plants, careful consolidation or rationalisation, records management, invasive species management and climate change adaptation strategies. It shall also include forward planning for the removal and/or additions of plants. The Plan will provide a strategic framework for future planting and collection development, and may inform detailed design stages of Masterplan implementation. Staff will start the scoping for the project working group and terms of reference including selection of representatives from internal and external parties.

Cultural and Heritage Considerations This land holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for Traditional Custodians the Kabi Kabi people and they have graciously shared thoughts and ideas that have been embraced in the draft Masterplan. The site has also served as the Noosa Botanic Gardens for almost 40 years and is highly valued by the broader Noosa community, particularly those in and around Cooroy. The Masterplan aims to create landscapes, gardens, spaces and facilities that can support cultural events, ceremonies, and gatherings and encourage storytelling, cultural exchange, and education.

Activation Plan Critical to the success of the gardens is its attraction appeal to visitors – both residents and tourists. The draft Masterplan includes an activation program of site appropriate live entertainment, guide walks and workshops to encourage visitation and longer stays.

Report details

Index: ECM / ASSET MANAGEMENT / Noosa Botanic Gardens Masterplan