New 58-space car park at Rockhampton Botanic Gardens and Zoo

It’s all happening at the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens and Zoo with a new playground opened and work to begin on a new car park. See what other projects are in the works.

A new car park will be built in this space for visitors to the gardens and zoo.

New playground: tick.

More car parks: coming soon.

Work is full steam ahead at the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens and Zoo as Rockhampton Regional Council continues work on a massive redevelopment.

The new $1.6 million state government-funded playground fit with climbing bars, slides and centrepiece of Ernie the Dingo was officially opened to the public on March 11.

The redeveloped playground at Rockhampton Botanic Gardens on March 11, 2023. Picture: Aden Stokes

 

Construction will now begin on a new car park which will add 58 spaces to the busy attraction.

Hendrie Constructions, a Yeppoon-based family owned civil construction company, was awarded the tender for $266,267.50 (excluding GST).

More car parking at the zoo and gardens has been long requested by the community however is quite restricted as the Botanic Gardens and reserve are heritage listed – meaning certain areas can’t be dug up for car parks.

The gardens were first gazetted in 1869 and the 150 year anniversary was celebrated in 2020, making it one of the oldest and most established public gardens in Queensland.

The new car park will have 58 spaces.

Space for a new car park was identified to be built on from an existing car park, in a section near the Athelstane Bowls Club.

The 58 new car parks will also include new pathways and landscaping.

The work is due to begin from about March 20 and will take seven weeks to complete.

Some areas may be temporarily closed during this time.

“We have heard the community’s requests for more parking, and I am pleased to announce we will soon be adding 58 carparks to our wonderful Botanic Gardens and Zoo,” Mayor Tony Williams said.

“We know the area is only getting more popular and busier which is why we are investing in extra parking spaces so more people can enjoy the wonderful gardens.

“We are adding a decent amount of parking so once the works are finished it will make a massive difference to finding a park the next time you visit the area.”

Parks Councillor Cherie Rutherford said it was an exciting time at the gardens and zoo with even more big things planned.

“It truly is a special area, and we want people to continue visiting and enjoying everything the gardens and zoo has to offer, which is why we decided to invest in more car parking,” she said.

“I know the extra car parking will be a welcome addition for the community and I look forward to seeing even more happy faces enjoying the Botanic Gardens and Zoo.”

The new car park will be built on from the existing one.

Tenders for a new visitor hub at the zoo were opened on March 10 and will close on April 5.

The visitor hub will act as the entrance to the zoo and include amenities, to save visitors having to walk up to the amenities up at the Tearooms.

The eagle enclosure at the zoo has been demolished and the design and construction of a new enclosure is due to be completed in May.

Document design is also underway for a lemur enclosure in the former aviary.