Brisbane's Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens could soon be home to Australia's first long-term night light show, similar to ones operating in Singapore, Paris and Montreal.
Brisbane City Council's plans to allow a multimedia light and art show in the gardens came under scrutiny from Greens Councillor Jonathan Sriranganathan who this week expressed concern the public asset was being commercialised.
Deputy Mayor Krista Adams said Night Dreaming, which owned the license to operate Canadian business Moment Factory's Lumina Night Walks installations in Australia, had chosen Brisbane for the after-dark tourist experience.
The show would operate in the exotic rainforest section of Mount Coot-tha's gardens and was estimated to attract 200,000 people a year.
The council would receive $100,000 per year over the initial five-year contract, which included the option of another five-year extension, revenue which would be reinvested back into city projects.
It would also benefit from receiving one per cent of ticket sales, however Cr Adams said she could not say how much entry would cost.
Moment Factory's website described Lumina Night Walks as "enchanting, revenue-generating experiences [which] are proven solutions that increase a site's visitorship and engagement, while contributing to helping local and regional economies".
The company has operated Rainforest Lumina at Singapore Zoo, Vallea Lumina in the mountains of Whistler in Canada and Sakuya Lumina around Osaka Castle in Japan.
Light show to improve visitor economy
Cr Adams said the experience would operate 170 nights per year on Fridays and Saturdays with extra availability over school holidays.
She said the city needed to be ready for the influx of international visitors who would attend the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
"Our visitor economy is a very large part of our global economy and we're encouraging everybody to come back and visit Brisbane — $6.5 billion goes into our annual economy every year for one extra night's stay in Brisbane," she said.
"The company has chosen Brisbane as the best and first long-term location in Australia for this unique offering.
"It could link to a day at Lone Pine [Koala Sanctuary]... before going into Lumina Night Walks."
Cr Adams said because the exotic rainforest section of Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens was not currently being used at night, it would be ideal for the Night Walks show.
She said there was also the opportunity to educate people on local indigenous culture, flora and fauna as part of the installation.
"It'll be a first of its kind in the southern hemisphere, using solar power and carbon-neutral technologies," Cr Adams said.
Questions remain about project
But Cr Sriranganathan said more public consultation was needed before the council locked in the deal.
He referred to the council's failed Mount Coot-tha zipline project and said he was concerned the community would not accept the proposal.
"I'm very concerned the council is doing the same thing here. It does look like the proposal does have some benefits but it does look like the council is commercialising a public asset," Cr Sriranganathan said.
"I do have strong reservations about this in its current form.
"The process here is backwards. The development application hasn't been lodged yet so for the council to lob this in and say this can go ahead before the development application is assessed and before formal and rigorous feedback from residents is concerning.
"It hasn't gone out to public tender, the council hasn't said, 'We want to bring in more people to the gardens after dark', it's been brought in without testing the market, without seeing what other private companies might have to offer."
Cr Sriranganathan was also concerned about how much tickets would cost, how late shows would finish and what "independent assessment had been undertaken to ensure light pollution wouldn't impact local wildlife".
A post on Mt Coot-tha Protection Alliance Inc's Facebook page attracted almost 30 comments from social media users worried about the effects of the show on the area's wildlife.
First show could be in 12 months
Night Dreaming would cover the cost of establishing the attraction and maintenance, Cr Adams said.
She also confirmed there was "no need to remove one plant or tree or make any material changes to the botanic gardens in any way" in order to facilitate the light show.
"Equipment will be hidden or camouflaged from view during daylight hours and there will be neutral impact to residents and ecology," she said.
"The plan significantly limits noise and light spills, and there will be minimal effect on any fauna as well."
Cr Adams also said there was "no-one else to go out to tender" for the light event, as Night Dreaming held the only Australian licence.
The company would invest $5 million worth of capital into the project and there was no up-front capital requirement from the council.
A letter sent to residents about the project showed formal consultation would start next month and pending approval, the first Lumina Night Walk show would open during the 2023 Brisbane Festival.
