General News
31 October, 2025
Survey snubbed
FEEDBACK which shows overwhelming support for the Botanic Gardens Café to stay has been ignored by Cairns Regional Council which is pushing ahead with its demolition in the new year.
A council report tabled on Wednesday said during the ‘have your say’ consultation 72 people rejected the removal of the café, 24 people supported its removal, but wanted a new alternative experience, while 13 supported the end of the café.
“Feedback from the community has been incorporated within the plan via the provision of a number of ‘pop up’ food, beverage and refreshment operators who will be permitted to trade at a variety of locations within the site,” the report said.
“This feedback indicates that there is a high value placed on the ability for visitors to enjoy a coffee, cold beverage or light meal.
“Whilst there is a dedicated food and beverage offering at the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre and the site is in very close proximity to some of the region’s best hospitality offerings at the adjacent Edge Hill village precinct, there is clear demand for an ongoing offering within the gardens.
“Accordingly, the draft plan makes provision for a number of conveniently located, ‘pop up’ food, beverage and refreshment operators.”
The masterplan review said there was “an important opportunity to also provide a fresh, new food and beverage offering within a relaxed, lush, green Botanic Gardens setting”.
“It is proposed this takes the form of a temporary (bump in) or permanent coffee and snacks cart with associated table seating under the shade of a nearby large fig tree.”
The council has budgeted $600,000 to controversially demolish the café and build a new toilet block.
The council is not renewing the lease of café operator Kimmy Timms after more than 25 years which has led to a chorus of protests from customers.
The council report said the current toilets next to the café “do not meet contemporary standards or align with the status of the gardens as one of the region’s premier public spaces and tourist destinations”.
Cr Anna Middleton, whose division 7 includes the gardens, told the council meeting it was “a hot topic” in her area.
She said the toilet project was “very exciting and very important” to her as a physiotherapist because it met the latest accessibility requirements.
“Secondly, we have listened to the community and we do recognise and will provide some opportunities for further food and beverage options. We have an end-of-life asset there and what we’re proposing will give people that opportunity and reading further into the public commentary, it’s more about having an ability to have a cup of coffee.”
Deputy mayor Brett Olds said there was a lot of confusion and he was contacted by many people, especially about the café and the lack of consultation.
He said the review was an update of the master plan and the original consultation was held in 2022, which many had forgotten about but “we’ve got to bring people along with us”.
Cr Olds said many were astounded at the cost of the new toilets – $500,000, which a house could be built for.
But council infrastructure and assets director Mark Wuth said the cost was due to lot of standards having to be met, as well as detailed design (it was a complex structure), rising construction costs and having to endure a long life.
