The botanic garden is a serene spot for a coffee – but you may have to “swing through the trees” to get one. Photo: Jen White.
The nature-based tourism company that operates Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures could be the key to getting a cafe back at the Wollongong Botanic Garden with council progressing negotiations with TreeClimb after it submitted a proposal for the site.
A call for proposals to operate at the garden has further dampened hopes of a cafe reopening soon. The council will not pursue further feasibility for a standalone cafe or restaurant after there was little interest from commercial operators in providing the refurbishment and services required to make it a reality.
However, of the submitted proposals, one by TreeClimb shows a glimmer of hope.
“My desire for a cafe remains, and we do have TreeClimb who are proposing a small cafe as part of their proposal of a tree climb course,” Lord Mayor Tania Brown said.
“We will continue to work through our masterplan and I will keep my dream alive that one day I can have tea and scones at the BG even if I have to swing through the trees to get it.”
Council voted to progress negotiations with the tourism provider to refine its proposal for an environmental education and nature-based eco-tourism activation, while also exploring the commercial aspects and conducting stakeholder consultations prior to its lodgement of a development application (DA).
The company currently offers experiences ranging from treetop walks, to team building and obstacle courses in multiple states. The specifics of what and where the activation and cafe would be has not been finalised with DA lodgments and plans to be confirmed further down the line.
But for the more than 350,000 visitors to the gardens each year, it is unlikely another hospitality offering will come to fruition sooner, with discussions around pop-up shipping container cafes or the like said to be too expensive to connect to power, with council staff having explored that idea around 10 years ago.
“The TreeClimb sounds really exciting but these things take time and there’s definitely desire in the community for a cafe,” councillor Jess Whittaker said.
“I just say keep your mind open maybe with solar and battery with a backup generator, maybe the price of that has come down over 10 years and it might be a feasible option to have a container.”
Eight proposals were submitted and assessed under five criteria: proving previous experience in the successful operation and management of commercial activities or facilities in a similar scope; proposed commitment to minimising the environmental impact of the activation project; proposed contribution to the local community in line with sustainability and ecotourism principles; proposed activation project details; and demonstrated strengthening of local economic capacity.
Although proponents other than TreeClimb will be advised their proposals will not progress, not all ideas were ruled out.
Staff suggested a proposal from NEST Markets and Food/Wine Festival of a curated monthly markets and annual standalone evening destination-style food and beverage festival event had merit to be explored as part of the events offered at the gardens.
Smaller scale projects such as guided therapy walks by Forest Pathways and small scale food-based gatherings and educational activities, neighbour circles and an annual neighbour’s day event by Neighbours of the Garden also had potential to be integrated into existing education programs.
However a proposal for a 20-place childcare facility operating out of a refurbished Cratloe Cottage was not supported due to it restricting access to the broadest cross-section of the community.
“Normally when we go to a tender or a tender-like process, we end up with one idea and one successful applicant; in this case we may end up with four ideas and four successful respondents,” councillor David Brown said.
The call for proposals aimed to see what was possible and how they could be integrated into the garden’s masterplan which was adopted last year and focuses on enhancing the site as an inclusive destination, strengthening its role as a ‘living classroom’, incorporating Aboriginal “Caring for Country” knowledge and offering activations that diversify its attractions and commercial sustainability.
For more information on the Wollongong Botanic Garden and the masterplan, visit the Wollongong Botanic Garden website.
