Ridong planning a Coast nature-based theme park for $250-million at Tallebudgera mansion

A BREATH-TAKING nature-based theme park inspired by the most beautiful gardens on Earth is planned for Tallebudgera as part of a tourism development.

OVERSEAS: Visitors walk among the flowers inside one of the biodomes at the Eden Project near St Austell, England. Photo: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

A BREATH-taking nature-based theme park inspired by the most beautiful gardens on Earth is planned for Tallebudgera as part of an Australia-first, $250-million tourism development.

Ridong Gold Coast, partners in the Jewel project, have won a preliminary bid for a 2018 exhibition ratified by the esteemed International Association of Horticultural Producers.

Named “Australis”, the park would be purpose-built in time for the international exhibition and will then take its place as the city’s newest theme park.

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It is designed to feature striking plants and landscapes from up to 50 countries, with a world-class wedding venue as a stunning centrepiece at the Bellagio La Villa mansion.

OVERSEAS: Visitors walk among the flowers inside one of the biodomes at the Eden Project near St Austell, England. Photo: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Ridong chairman Ri Yu Li bought the mansion and three neighbouring parcels, totalling 23.1 hectares, last September.

Tourism and Events Queensland provided $15,000 for the bid, which the Gold Coast Bulletin understands was also supported by Gold Coast Tourism and the Gold Coast City Council’s Economic Development department.

A development application is yet to be submitted for the project and Ridong declined to comment on the plan.

St Austell, England: A toddler explores the latest attraction 'The Sense of Memory Garden' at the Eden Project. Photo: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Just a few cities in the world are selected to hold an AIPH expo each year with the association’s event schedule including the lauded Floriade festivals. Australia has never before hosted an AIPH exhibition.

National Trust Currumbin Sanctuary chairman Jonathan Fisher said he hoped the Border and Hinterland walks could be connected to the proposed new attraction, creating a world-class, eco-tourism hub on the southern Gold Coast.

He said land on the higher blocks that was less suitable for development could be rejuvenated as a conservation area where rescued animals could be safely released.

“If they’re going to build world-class, eco-tourism facilities, that will rise and fall with their relationship with the land,” he said.

“It can’t be just a PR exercise – there needs to be a tangible connection with the land in that business.”

Bellagio La Villa 49 & 109 Tallebudgra Connection Rd.

Mr Fisher said there was potential to create an experience on Mount Tallebudgera like that of Tasmania’s iconic Cradle Mountain and hoped private land around the park’s footprint could be a nature conservation area where animals from Currumbin Wildlife Hospital could be released in safety.

“It can be high quality without being high volume,” he said.

“I’m really excited that there’s potential there to create something that we don’t have in such an accessible locations on the Gold Coast.

“This is a strategic investment – it’s what we’ve all been asking for.”

Major garden-based attractions across the world, like the UK’s Eden Project in Cornwall, have built important community and conservation partnerships and Mr Fisher said he hoped similar opportunities would present themselves here.

The Eden Project is just one of an increasing number of garden-based tourist attractions, with projects like Singapore’s $1 billion Gardens by the Bay proving large-scale international drawcards.

“There is a lot of big dreaming going on here,” Mr Fisher said.

“It could create a nice alternative to the adrenaline-pumping rides we have currently.

“If it turns out to be of the quality and scale that is being considered, the potential for jobs and the potential for changing the image of the Gold Coast, is great.”