Project update 14 November 2024

The car park adjacent to the Riverview Hotel is now open to the public. The internal road connecting the two car parks is permanently closed. The new entrance/exit onto Tweed Valley Way is also now operational.

The World Heritage Rainforest Centre (also known as the Murwillumbah Visitor Information Centre) has been demolished. Public toilets will remain accessible throughout the construction of Stage 3, which includes park landscaping works.

Upgrades to the parklands will be take place from January to April 2025.

For more details view the flyer or see the key dates & project timeline to the right of the page.

Thank you for your patience while we deliver the Budd Park upgrade.

Thank you for providing feedback on the draft concept plan. Feedback is now closed.

The feedback you provided has been consolidated into an engagement report, which will serve as valuable input for shaping the final concept plan.

About the park

The World Heritage Rainforest Centre, also known as the Murwillumbah Visitor Information Centre, was inundated in both the 2017 and 2022 floods, resulting in substantial damage to the building and its surroundings. In response to these recurring challenges, Council has made the decision to remove the flood-prone building to prioritise public safety and mitigate future risks associated with its vulnerable location.

The removal of the flood-prone building opens opportunities for revitalisation and redevelopment of Murwillumbah’s Budd Park. The area occupied by the building and the internal car park will be repurposed as parkland, enhancing access to quality public open space for residents and visitors.

This transformation will create a vibrant community hub that promotes outdoor activities and social interaction, significantly improving the area's aesthetic and recreational value.

The draft concept plan will be on public exhibition from 12 June to 10 July 2024.

What's proposed?

Demolition of the World Heritage Rainforest Centre and internal road
Retain the existing public toilets
Retain the western car park with an additional accessible parking bay
Reduce the size of the eastern car park by 5 spaces, reseal car park, and enable entry and exit onto Tweed Valley Way.
Accessible shelters, barbeques, picnic tables and seating
Connecting pathways and bike racks
Drinking fountain
Rubbish bins
Informative flood markers
Painting of the existing feature pole
Landscaping and tree planting

Why it’s happening?

The decision to demolish the World Heritage Rainforest Centre has arisen from the need to address public safety and the risk of future flooding. Frequent flood events have caused significant damage to the building including its fixtures and footings, air conditioning units, electrical and plumbing systems, making it unsafe for occupancy. Engineers found ground movement, changes in concrete path levels, drainage issues, and pooling underneath the building, which could affect the structural foundations. There is also termite and wet rot damage. Due to its flood-prone location the building is now uninsurable, placing a financial burden on Council.

Please consult the FAQs for additional details on the condition of the building and the planned works.

In addition to safety concerns, the economic implications of maintaining a flood-prone building are substantial. Repeated flood damage necessitates costly repairs and maintenance, diverting funds from other vital community projects and services.

Council has determined that the building will not be reinstated following the 2022 floods. This presents opportunities to deliver modern, resilient infrastructure that can better withstand future weather events.

The Murwillumbah Visitor Information Centre has been relocated and is now conveniently situated at Murwillumbah Railway Station at the trail head of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.

Have your say

To provide feedback, please download the draft concept plan and either:

Complete the survey below
Email tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au with the subject ‘Budd Park upgrade’ or
Mail to Manager, Parks and Active Communities, Tweed Shire Council, PO Box 816, Murwillumbah, NSW 2484.

Funding

Budget: $999,870

Jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.

For more information, please contact Council’s Parks & Active Communities unit on (02) 6670 2400.

Community Survey for Budd Park upgrade