This Is What Brisbane's New 45-Hectare Inner-City Public Park Could Look Like

In the near future, a trip to Herston could involve wandering across suspended canopies, kayaking and swimming in lagoons, moseying through wetlands and watching insects flutter by in a giant walk-through butterfly house. They're just some of the possible ideas under consideration for Victoria Park Vision, the huge new 45-hectare public park that's set to replace the Victoria Park Golf Course.

Also mooted: a produce garden, a "food forest" (an orchard, presumably), fountains and waterfalls scattered around the site, and a playground for adults. In good news for your pooch, a water park for dogs is also among the suggestions. As announced by Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, the possibilities go on, including picnic facilities, cafes and restaurants, sporting grounds and attractions that are open both day and night. Other ideas span native gardens, tropical forests, giant slides, replica life-size dinosaurs, areas honouring Indigenous Australian culture and a suspended treehouse playground.

While they mightn't all come to fruition, all of the above inclusions are currently being contemplated by Brisbane City Council. The lengthy list is the result of a recent months-long community consultation process, with more than 5400 people tendering submissions and over 3500 folks showing up to an open day back in September. BCC will keep sifting through the suggestions, then combine them with advice from local and international design experts, ready for a draft overview of Victoria Park Vision to be released in late January 2020.

Whatever ends up making the final cut whenever the new park becomes a reality — an opening date is yet to be set — the sprawling new space is set to change the face of the inner city. Given that it'll become Brisbane's biggest new park in five decades, that's to be expected.

And if you've noticed that mini-golf isn't listed among the huge number of features above, don't worry. While the existing full-size golf course is saying goodbye, Vic Park's current putt-putt and driving range facilities are earmarked to stay.

For more information about Victoria Park Vision, visit the Brisbane City Council website.