Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens' land formally named

In response to community feedback, Council has decided that three previously unnamed lots of Council-owned land on Forsythia Drive will be formally named the Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen has thanked the 469 community members who responded to the public survey during the community consultation held in April and May this year.

"This is an example of Council's Naming of Roads and Places Policy in action, Council's decision today was based firmly on the outcomes of public consultation which showed overwhelming support for the land to be formally named Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens," Cr Christensen said. 

"In making this announcement I would like to be clear about what Council can and cannot name. Council is responsible for the naming of roads and places, however, it cannot dictate the names of businesses, community organisations, facilities or activities that operate on Council-owned land, unless they contravene the community use naming convention.

"The Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens was established in 1983 by volunteers in consultation with the then Beaudesert Shire Council, and that name has been used colloquially since.

"In 2020, the incorporated volunteer association responsible for managing the Gardens changed membership and leadership; and the new association, the Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens Inc, voted at their AGM to change the name of the Gardens to the 'Tamborine Mountain Regional Botanic Gardens in the Scenic Rim'.

"In September 2020, Council was notified of the association's desire to change the name of the Gardens and in November 2020, an e-petition with 250 signatures was tabled with Council opposing the proposed name change.

"As per its policy, Council consulted with the community and have now reached a decision on the formal name of the Council-owned land, while acknowledging that the operational name chosen by the association may differ.

"There are instances in the Scenic Rim where the formal and operational names differ, for example, the formal name of Council-owned land on Petersen Street, Beaudesert is RS Willis Park and the operational name of the facility that occupies the land is Beaudesert Kingfishers Rugby League Club.

"Officers will notify the association, Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens Inc, of the outcome of the community consultation and Council's decision today on the naming of the land.

"We ask the community to respect the volunteer members of the association, who manage the Gardens, and their choice of an operational name of the facility.

"Council provides more than $60,000 annually to financially support the Gardens and labour for certain maintenance activities; however, it is the volunteers who are doing all the hard work to care for hectares of exotic and native flora including the Japanese garden and tropical rainforest walk and being there to open the doors for residents and visitors every day."