Masterplan to be Considered at Council's 17 November Meeting

Thank you to everyone who gave feedback on the Botanic Garden Draft Masterplan 2025. A post-exhibition report will go before Council at their next meeting on Monday 17 November 2025. The report recommends that:

1. Council expresses its appreciation for the community feedback received while developing the Masterplan and Conservation Management Plan and during the public exhibition process, as documented in the report.
2. Council adopts the draft Gleniffer Brae Conservation Management Plan.
3. Council adopts the draft Wollongong Botanic Garden 2025-35 Masterplan Report and Landscape Plan as amended following the public exhibition period.
4. Council receives a subsequent report following a public Expression of Interest process to determine any commercial interest in providing suitable activations for the site which align with the objectives of the Masterplan and are permissible with the Botanic Garden Plan of Management 2020.

View the report in full in the 17 November Council Business Paper, Item 11.

At the meeting, Councillors will evaluate the recommendations and decide whether to endorse the plan/s. If you would like to watch the meeting, you can watch all Council Meetings online via our webcast, or to watch in person, seats in the public gallery are available from 5.45pm (meeting starts at 6pm). Note that if you're attending in-person, you must follow the Public Gallery Conduct Standards.

Engagement Findings

Overall, the feedback was overwhelmingly supportive of the draft Masterplan’s intent, with strong community appreciation for the Garden as a valued public asset. The feedback reflects deep community ownership of the Garden. Many submissions were well-informed and highly detailed – covering many aspects of the plan with great detail, referencing past plans, giving architectural proposals, and acknowledging operational realities.

We heard clear and consistent advocacy for several key improvements, particularly around visitor amenities, accessibility, and cultural inclusion. There was also a clear desire for a long-term vision, especially regarding infrastructure investment and prioritisation.

Here's a summary of the engagement findings:

Visitor Centre & Café

• Strong support for a purpose-built, integrated facility near Murphy’s Avenue.
• Cratloe Cottage widely viewed as unsuitable due to accessibility and heritage concerns.
• Calls for prioritisation and feasibility studies.

Toilet Facilities

• Existing amenities seen as inadequate.
• Preference for integration with visitor centre rather than standalone blocks.

Accessibility & Parking

• Requests for improved pedestrian access, expanded parking, and better bike facilities.

Playground & Family Facilities

• Desire for inclusive, modern play equipment and shaded seating.

Mercury Five Islands Fountain

• Mixed views: many advocating for restoration; others expressing sustainability concerns.

Heritage & Cultural Inclusion

• Strong support for Gleniffer Brae conservation and activation.
• Calls for greater visibility of Aboriginal culture through signage, gardens, and programming.

Environmental & Educational Enhancements

• Support for propagation glasshouse upgrades, Bushcare initiatives, and educational programming.
• Suggestions for music events, workshops, and community gardening.

Tourism Strategy

• Noted absence of a formal strategy - recommended integration with Destination Wollongong.

Engagement participation
	1,600+ Visits to the website
	1,000+ Document downloaded
	78 Feedback forms completed
	54 Emails/letters received
	30+ Face-to-face conversations

If you would like to find out more on what the community said regarding this project, you can review the Engagement Report.