The Hunter Region Botanic Gardens in Heatherbrae will reopen to the public on Sunday, 30 March, following extensive damage caused by the severe storm on 15 January.
Hundreds of trees were knocked down across the 125-hectare site, forcing the Gardens to close for weeks while volunteers worked to clear debris and restore pathways.
Hunter Region Botanic Gardens Chairperson, Ken Page, said the impact was devastating.
“It was truly heartbreaking. We arrived at our front gate the morning after the storm and had to call in volunteers with chainsaws just to cut our way in,” Ken said.
“There were four 30-metre gum trees across our picnic area, our children’s playhouse was completely destroyed, and not a single walking path was free of fallen trees.
“From the front gate to the back of the property, there were trees down everywhere.”
The Gardens, run entirely by volunteers and without ongoing government funding, rely on entry fees and donations to operate. The extended closure has put a significant strain on resources, and the scale of the clean-up was overwhelming.
With the help of SES and RFS crews, volunteers have been able to clear much of the debris, but hanging branches remain a major hazard, requiring specialist arborists whose services cost thousands of dollars per day.
“Many of our volunteers were here for the Pasha Bulka storm in 2007, and they say this storm caused far more damage,” Ken said.
“But they all rolled up their sleeves and got on with the job. These Gardens are built with love, and now we’re calling on the community to come together and support that effort.”
To mark the reopening and raise much-needed funds, the Gardens will host a special event on Sunday, 30 March, from 10am.
Visitors can enjoy live music, a sausage sizzle, and a plant sale, with entry by donation. Additional contributions toward the storm clean-up fund will be greatly appreciated.
While some areas of the Gardens will remain out of bounds for months, volunteers have worked tirelessly to restore many pathways and bring the gardens back to life.
The event will be officially opened by Port Stephens Mayor, Leah Anderson.
IMAGE | Eucalyptus Lawn in Botanic Gardens
