A fresh direction for the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden

Jennifer Waithman, Environmental Interpretation Officer, Sunshine Coast Council

The Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden (MRBBG) has recently completed its first interpretive strategy. This strategy will guide the development of a full suite of interpretive services, from non‑personal to personal interpretive products and programs.

Brisbane‑based consultancy Storyflight, run by Jen York and Bec Fitzpatrick, was contracted by the Sunshine Coast Council to engage with our internal and external stakeholders to guide us through the planning process. This process took five months, from November 2021 to March 2022.

Interpretive planning includes input from a variety of internal and external stakeholders. We wanted to give a voice to all who support the various components of the interpretive program at MRBBG. These components include guided walks, events, artistic exhibitions and children’s holiday programs. The initial two‑day site visit provided stakeholders with an opportunity to meet the Storyflight team and share their perspectives on MRBBG.

Storyflight followed up with personal interviews with stakeholders, including the garden’s Friends group, regional tourism industries and local universities. This provided a baseline of information for Storyflight to create an initial draft.

We then conducted an online workshop with multiple stakeholders, including a representative of First Nations People, to obtain comments and feedback on the initial draft strategy. The draft was available for open comment after the workshop for those who were unable to attend.

The final working draft was well received by our internal and external stakeholders. We are now in the process of formally working with the traditional owners of the land on which the garden is situated to further explore and incorporate their priorities and key messages into the interpretive plan.

This process has allowed our internal and external stakeholders to share their insight and to comment on how we progress with interpretation at MRBBG with one shared vision. The plan acts as a roadmap for telling the garden’s stories in the most effective and compelling ways, to further the community’s understanding and connection to MRBBG, now and in the future.

A family using our Whipbird Village/Walk area. Credit: Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden