Mossman Botanic Garden (MBG) began as a grass-roots, Mossman-led community project, that, like many great ideas, has evolved and developed over a long time.
Creating a new 21st Century globally important Botanic Garden dedicated to the flora of the Wet Tropics from scratch, presents a substantial logistical and funding challenge, with many different elements, requiring significant planning and input from a large array of expertise and many stakeholders.
It takes time to identify and establish critical relationships with key stakeholders, including the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Traditional Custodians, the Douglas Shire Council, research organisations and relevant Australian and Queensland government agencies.
The MBG has been awarded several significant grants. In particular, the Board acknowledges the ongoing commitment and support of the Hon Warren Entsch MP, Federal Member for Leichhardt, and the Australian Government, who provided almost $2 million in funding for site acquisition and development of the original master plan.
MBG was awarded a Landcare Grant in May 2020 for a Cultural Heritage Assessment and Botanical Survey of Kubbirri Creek, and some restoration of the garden site, including removing rubbish and planting 1,500 trees. The Cultural Heritage Assessment was undertaken in partnership with Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation, and the botanical work completed by the Australian Tropical Herbarium.
In November 2020, the MBG Board and management were significantly restructured, with a fully professional skills-based Board, CEO and Company Secretary.
The MBG received an Australian Government Community Development Grant in 2020 for $500,000 and transitioned its original conceptual master plan into a magnificent, three-stage project plan, the renders that are seen throughout the website represent many months of team work. Schematic architectural drawings, landscaping, engineering, geo-tech and hydrological assessments have been completed, with detailed costings prepared for Stage One. We are ready to apply for planning permission as we move into detailed design and then construction on Stage One, seeking to begin as soon as the significant funding required is raised.
We are currently seeking the $20 million required to commence initial works for Stage One of the MBG, including internal roading and essential infrastructure for the site, visitor centre and nurseries, a community garden, a Garden of Woven Memories developed in partnership with the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Traditional Owners, and a state-of-the-art children’s playground.
The Board gratefully acknowledges the significant contribution of the six original Board Members who laid the ground work for the Mossman Botanic Garden:
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