Making the experts come to us

Quarry Gardens workshop in April

FRIENDS of the Quarry Gardens will bring a host of international experts to Toowoomba to thresh out ideas for the transformative tourist attraction.

Last year the Labor Government made an election promise of $45,000 to send representatives from the Friends of the Quarry Gardens to Canada to learn about the Butchart Gardens - the attraction on which the Bridge Street Quarry Gardens proposal is modelled.

But seeing more value in bringing experts to Toowoomba, the group successfully persuaded the government to allow a different use for the money.

“We’re really keen to get the best value of that $45,000 for the Toowoomba community, so instead of a few people travelling to Canada, we’re bringing experts here so we can all benefit,” a FOTQG spokeswoman said.

The spokeswoman said the group was looking to conduct a workshop with experts, in partnership with Toowoomba Regional Council, at the end of April.

The group is also looking for inspiration from entities like Brisbane’s Southbank Corporation. Discussions would revolve around how best to use public spaces, including talk of commercial elements.

Preceding the $45,000 election promise was the State Government’s commitment to fund a $250,000 feasibility study into the Quarry Gardens, with work to begin by the end of this month.

FOTQG said it had been involved in discussions with council on the feasibility study, and would happily become more involved.

“We’d love to work with council at looking at the escarpment development as a whole, the gardens certainly being a part of that,” the spokeswoman said.

FOTQG became an incorporated entity earlier this year.