AN elected Coalition Government will invest $1.4 million to develop the Mossman Botanic Garden and showcase the ‘treasure chest’ of the Daintree Rainforest.
Making the announcement with Scott Morrison MP, Liberal National Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch MP said this landmark local investment will help bring about the rejuvenation of Mossman.
“This is incredible news for the community,” Mr Entsch said. “Mossman is a thriving agricultural town but tourists tend to pass through and go to Mossman Gorge Visitor Centre or the Daintree.
“As the only botanic garden focused on publicly showcasing unique plants from Australia’s Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, this will be a world-class scientific facility.
“And due to its uniqueness, it’ll also be a major tourism drawcard for the 100,000-plus visitors to the region to spend extended time and money in Mossman itself, and the benefits will extend far beyond Mossman to Cairns and Port Douglas,” said Mr Entsch.
The garden will feature a Wet Tropics arboretum, themed gardens, an interpretation centre, a research facility, entertainment areas, community facilities, and the Betty Hinton Art Centre.
Mr Entsch has been a key supporter throughout, helping the Committee join forces with the world-renowned local artist Betty Hinton to create a one-of-a-kind botanical art gallery within the grounds.
“There’s no arguing that this project will create a whole range of fresh opportunities for the area ? from greater economic investment and employment, to partnerships across the Wet Tropics region, to supporting Indigenous cultural knowledge and stories of rainforest ecosystems,” Mr Entsch said.
The Mossman Botanic Garden Inc. Committee is made up of six local scientific, business and tourism identities. The committee aim to plan, fund, construct, operate, and grow the MBG into a self-funding entity within 5 years. It has identified an ideal block of land for the site near central Mossman and an Agreement to Purchase Land has been produced.
Mr Morrison said it was an ideal project for the Coalition to help get off the ground.
“When it’s operating, the MBG will be a world-class rainforest arboretum and tourist attraction that cultivates, conserves, and presents significant plants, ecosystems and products of Australia’s World Heritage wet tropics,” he said.
“By harnessing tourists’, students’ and scientists’ strong interest in Wet Tropics rainforest plants, science, education, culture, horticulture and arts, it will soon be able to self-fund.
“That’s a great outcome and I’m pleased to be here today to commend the Committee for all their efforts and to help make their vision into a reality.”
This announcement builds on the Coalition’s recent $42 million investment to support the expansion of James Cook University’s renowned Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine and underlines the Coalition’s determination to support the development of Northern Australia.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Heather Beck (Mr Entsch’s office) 0427 585 668
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