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The potential for Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve’s world-class view of the Glasshouse Mountains to be matched by a world-class discovery centre is on the horizon.

Sunshine Coast Council has approved a building renewal project concept plan, allowing detailed design to be developed to a ‘shovel ready’ state.

Divisional councillor Jenny McKay said there was still a long way to go for this project to become a reality, but finalising detailed designs was critical to successfully attract state or federal government funding.

The project will include new Discovery Centre, cafe, gift shop, elevated viewing platform, meeting theatrette, conservation research area and offices and amenities for the volunteers and staff.

“Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve is recognised as a regional icon for its significant conservation values,” Cr McKay said.

“It has been a popular destination for residents and visitors for more than 50 years and attracts about 200,000 people annually.

“Key stakeholders such as the Friends of Mary Cairncross, the volunteers and the tourism groups – including Sunshine Coast Destination Limited - are particularly excited about the proposed renewal.

“After an extensive stakeholder and community consultation, ensuring we got the broader community, the visitors and key stakeholders involved, we have now got this right.

“We have met with senators, federal politicians and community leaders, leaving no stone unturned in our quest to attract funding for this regional project.

“This Reserve is all about environmental education and conservation and in its present form, we are attracting hundreds of coaches each year.

“That’s thousands of people eager to learn about the Reserve while having a great day out.

“But we are turning busloads and school groups away during wet weather because it is not designed to cater for large numbers during those conditions.”

Cr McKay said the council-endorsed design would  provide protection from the elements and would invite the rainforest inside to make it a more exciting, discoverable experience.

“It will also include a welcome and orientation area, rainforest ecology, a living lab and research section and a kids’ education area,” she said.

“Another section represents activity in the rainforest between dusk and dawn, giving visitors a full sensory experience of sound, light and visual displays to take them on a journey of discovery.

“The concept includes an area where visitors can enjoy the history of the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve and surrounding areas through an interactive digital display.

“Here, visitors will learn about local indigenous history, industry, European settlement, community groups, gifting of the reserve and the Thynne family.

“One of the most important areas is the conservation space which shows how visitors can get involved.

“They’ll be empowered with the knowledge they have learnt from their experience and encouraged to put their learning into practice.

“Throughout consultation, the community told us the cafe was an important part of the experience. The approved concept will evoke a rustic charm through use of timber, with a fireplace being a central feature.”

Of the two concepts put out for community consultation, the endorsed concept has larger and more open internal floor space, with more areas available for interpretive or cultural displays and enhanced visitor experience in general, a smaller overall footprint allowing more landscaping and revegetation works and more open visitor flow.

“Council has, however, proposed to take elements from the other concept’s external finishings to soften the building, making it more organic to fit within the site,” Cr McKay said.

“We are tying the world-class view of the magnificent Glasshouse Mountains into this world-class design so it becomes a national and international destination.

“There are only two interpretive centres of this kind in Queensland and this is an opportunity not be missed.”

It is estimated that in year three of the development’s opening, the direct and indirect visitor spend contributed by additional visitors attracted to the Sunshine Coast region as a result of the project will reach $4.2 million and will increase annually in line with visitor growth.

Cr McKay said if successful in attracting funding, the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve building renewal project would help Sunshine Coast Council and its community partners better deliver on the Thynne sisters’ Deed of Trust which promoted exhibiting the reserve’s stunning flora, fauna and scenery.

Council established a community based Concept Design Advisor Panel to closely guide the concept design development process.

The advisor panel included representatives from the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Management Committee, Volunteers and Friends of Mary Cairncross, Maleny Rotary Club, University of Sunshine Coast, Maleny Chamber of Commerce, Hinterland Tourism Sunshine Coast and Cr McKay as divisional councillor. + University of the Sunshine Coast

The 55 ha Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve is at 148 Mountain View Rd, Maleny, and  is managed by council in partnership with the community-based management committee and more than 90 volunteers.

The reserve covers 55 ha of which only 3000 sqm of already disturbed areas are impacted by the revitalisation.

Project construction costs are estimated to be about $4.5 million and council’s forward capital works program provides $1.97m for the design and upgrade.  The community based Management Committee has also committed $200,000 towards the project out of the donations funds.

ABOUT MARY CAIRNCROSS SCENIC RESERVE

In 1941 the Thynne sisters gifted the land to the former Landsborough Shire Council, with the transfer documents stating that the land be held “as a Reserve and Sanctuary for the preservation, conservation and exhibition of Natural Flora and Fauna of the said land for Scenic purposes and for no other purpose whatsoever”.

Elizabeth ‘Bessie’ Thynne (one of the sisters) later donated more rainforest to Council and continued a close relationship with the reserve until her death in 1978.  Bessie had a great love of teaching children about nature.  She also approached Rotary and Council to make improvements to the reserve that would better cater for visitors and tourists, and to build the cairn that overlooks her beloved Glass House Mountains.

Sunshine Coast Council is now the custodian of the land and remains committed to honouring the Deed of Trust.  New facilities that are sensitively designed to help visitors appreciate the conservation values and ‘take home’ messages of the Reserve, or to enjoy the iconic views of Glass House Mountains landscape, will further fulfil the purposes of the trust.  New works will be limited to the footprint of the existing building area to avoid any impact on the rainforest.

For further information, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions, visit council's website

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