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 stake holders, 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 Leichardt, 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 was significantly restructured, with a fully professional skills-based Board, CEO and Company Secretary.
The MBG also received an Australian Government Community Development Grant in 2020 for $500,000 and has transitioned its original conceptual master plan into a magnificent fully-costed, three-stage project plan. The architectural drawings, landscaping, engineering, geo-tech and hydrological assessments have been completed. We are now ready (in September 2021) to apply for planning permission and the many approvals necessary to enable construction to begin as soon as funding becomes available.
We are currently seeking the $17 million required to commence initial works for Stage One, 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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