Night walk tourism backers rejected koala sanctuary option

The backers of a world-class tourist light show attraction investigated siting it at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, it has been revealed. Some Brisbane locals are now up in arms at plans to build the night walk in one of the city’s top visitor destinations.

A Brisbane company investigated building a world-class light show tourist attraction in Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary before settling on the Mount Coot-Tha Botanic Gardens.

It also looked at building the night walk in the Roma Street Parklands, but rejected that option due to the amount of background illumination from cars and highrises.

Lone Pine, at Fig Tree Pocket, was ruled out because it was too small.

The company, Light Dreaming, has gone out to public consultation on its plans for the Lumina Night Walk, which if approved would be only the 13th such night walk in the world.

Canadian company Moment Factory designed the night walks in Japan, Canada and Singapore, with Light Dreaming owning the Australian license.

Lumina has applied to construct a night walk in the Mount Coot-Tha Botanic Gardens.

The guided sound and light walking tour would cover a 1km route along the Gardens Explorer Trail.

A public information session was held last week, attended by about 50 residents but no local councillors or state MPs.

The proponent told the residents they had searched for locations around Australia since June last year before selecting the Botanic Gardens in late 2021.

But they later confirmed they were approached by Council’s Better Brisbane Proposal initiative, which aimed to create jobs, improve services and strengthen the city’s economy.

No ticket pricing was revealed at the meeting, although Deputy Mayor Krista Adams has previously confirmed Council would get 1 per cent of ticket sales and $100,000 a year over the five-year contract.

Mud map of the proposed Lumina nightwalk route and parking areas.

Ms Adams said Council would pay nothing, with Light Dreaming funding the $5 million set-up costs, plus maintenance.

“It’ll be a first of its kind in the southern hemisphere, using solar power and carbon-neutral technologies,” Cr Adams told the ABC.

“Equipment will be hidden or camouflaged from view during daylight hours and there will be neutral impact to residents and ecology.’’

If approved, it would be up and running in time for next year’s Brisbane Festival.

The public meeting heard visitors would be taken by shuttle bus from the old Legacy Way carpark to the gardens.

Lumina night walks operate in 12 other locations around the world.

Some residents at the meeting said they had no knowledge of a letterbox drop Light Dreaming said it did in May to inform neighbours.

They also claimed only two of the 60 gardens volunteers were informed.

Some residents claimed the development application appeared to be lacking in detail or incomplete and contained conflicting information on visitor numbers, hours and days of operation.

However, Planners Place Design Group said in the development application that the idea should be approved.

“Notably, the proposal is consistent with the overall outcomes of the applicable Mount Coot-Tha Neighbourhood Plan code, through delivering a tourist attraction activity and environmental facility that is both small-scale and low-impact due to no built-form being required,’’ it wrote.

Light Dreaming says its proposal will have miniml impact on the gardens.

“The proposal maintains the existing facilities and usability of the gardens, enhancing the learning and leisure contributions that the site provides for the city.’’

An ecological report by consultants 28 South Environmental said lighting would be turned on for less than 10 per cent of total night-time hours during the year.

No trees or shrubs in the botanic gardens, one of Brisbane’s top tourist attractions and most loved picnic and walking spots, would be removed.

The report said the extent of trimming needed was unknown, but was “likely to be minimal’’.

Local state Greens MP, Michael Berkman, posted that his position on the proposal would be “informed by community feedback and the details of the impact assessment’’.

However, he said the community would not support superficial consultation.

“I think locals have every reason to be cynical about BCC’s pending assessment of the project when LNP councillors have already publicly endorsed and supported it,’’ he said.

More details on Council’s online DA portal developmenti. Search for application A006083027

Originally published as Night walk tourism backers rejected koala sanctuary option