Landmark environmental attraction to be built in Sydney's Royal Botanical Garden

The pyramid glasshouse at Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens is to be demolished and replaced by the 'Biome', an environmental attraction which aims to inspire a new generation of advocates for the environment.

The $50 million project will replace the existing Tropical Centre, creating three distinct climatic regions and their plants and animals.

Launching the concept, NSW Environment Minister Robyn Parker explained "Biome's role is to inspire a new generation of advocates for the environment by offering a unique and inspiring experience at the Botanic Garden.

"Inside futuristic biomes, visitors will be given a multi-sensory experience complete with plants, organic sounds, smells, insects, water and landscapes of Australia's Top End, Malesia's tropical lowland rainforests and New Guinea's cloud forests.

"Biome will include billabongs complete with small birds, lizards and insects and visitors will see the rhizosophere and earth's substratum-bedrock, subsoil, roots, topsoil, insects and humus layers in profile.

"As well, there will be a breathtaking canopy walk that takes visitors from inside the Biome outside amongst treetops in the Royal Botanic Garden."

The NSW Government is contributing a $17 million grant toward the cost of the project around a third of the expected final cost.

Designed by the architectural studio Hassell, work on the distinctive news structure is expected to begin later this year. Planned for completion in 2015, Biome is expected to attract 70,000 visitors to the Gardens each year.

The term biome refers to the main groups of plants and animals living in areas of certain climate patterns.

For more information go to www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au