29 May 2017 – Media Release
The Auburn Botanic Gardens and Central Gardens in Merrylands will be receiving significant upgrades amounting to $2.6 million. This announcement follows the release of Cumberland Council’s draft 2017/18 budget, which invests $184.5 million back into the community.
The Auburn Botanic Gardens will be transformed into a major events precinct with the installation of electricity and lighting, turnstiles, car park upgrades and improved walkways. Both the Auburn Botanic Gardens and the Central Gardens in Merrylands will be receiving universally accessible, regional playgrounds that include water play areas, new specialised play equipment, new paving, drinking fountains and more parking.
“The Auburn Botanic Gardens is an extraordinary space with the potential to deliver top notch events for the community such as the annual Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival, attended by over 60,000 people in 2016,” said Cumberland Council General Manager Malcolm Ryan.
“The Botanic Gardens will now be transformed into a Major Events Precinct with the capacity to host a range of destination and cultural tourism events.
“The precinct will give the community more opportunities to attend quality events locally. The precinct will also attract people from outside the area and provide economic benefits that can be used to provide even better places for the Cumberland community to visit in the future.
“Both parks will also receive brand new playgrounds with water play areas that have moving sprays so kids have a local place to cool down during the hot summers.
“The 2017/18 draft budget is about returning savings to the community and this is one example of Council’s greater capacity to deliver on the community’s vision, as identified in the recently adopted Community Strategic Plan.”
Other projects the draft budget promises to deliver include a $3.5m Regional Sporting Complex at Gipps Road, $1m expansion of Auburn Library and a $20m Granville Multi-Purpose Community Centre, Library and Regional Gallery.
Help Council make your vision for the future a reality by having your say on the 2017/18 draft Budget and Delivery Plan.
