Brisbane City Council begins $15 million upgrade at Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens

A $15 million upgrade of popular Brisbane landmark the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens is underway, with the four year project to include a new visitor centre and a zipline running above the location.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk turned the first sod on the new $3.4 million visitor centre last week, with the full program of works to the 1600 hectare parkland on Brisbane’s western fringe to include $5 million for new walking trails, a $4 million upgrade to waterfall areas, a $2 million zipline and a new $960,000 shuttle service to link all the attractions.

Commenting on the development, Lord Mayor Quirk told media “we’ll be progressively rolling out the improvements to the parks, similarly with the walking trails (with the) whole program to be complete by 2020.”

The new visitor centre, which will be manned by more than 100 volunteer guides, is expected to be completed by March next year.

Brisbane City Council will contribute $1 million for the zip line but has opened an expressions of interest/tender process to find a private operator prepared to contribute the rest of the money required to build and operate the attraction.

Lord Mayor Quirk said there was still no location identified to operate it but several natural wildlife corridors had been earmarked for its suitability.

He explained “we’ve had now seven proposals for the zip line and are looking at different locations for its site.

“Its a tremendous opportunity to offer an additional experience.”

Brisbane City Council figures indicate about 700,000 people visit the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens every year, making it the city’s second most popular destination after South Bank.

Mt Coot-tha is home to about 370 wildlife species, with another 450 native plant species located throughout the forest.

Images: A view of Brisbane from the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens (top) and an ornamental lake in the Gardens (below).

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