Plans for proposed Japanese gardens in Victoria Park unveiled

The plans for a new Shibetsu Garden in Victoria Park have been finalised and released by Goulburn Mulwaree Council.

It follows on from a delegation from Goulburn's Sister City Shibetsu, Japan.

They visited the city to provide guidance in developing the project during February.

Final plans set out a unique space for the gardens that will be situated between Seiffert Oval, the Adventure Playground and the Victoria Park stage.

The gardens will feature maple trees, cherry blossoms, pathways and a gazebo, all centred around a koi pond and a system of seven gentle waterfalls.

Goulburn Mulwaree Mayor Bob Kirk said he was pleased by the progress that had been made and was looking forward to seeing work underway in the coming months.

"The Japanese garden in Victoria Park will be a unique asset for the region, which we expect will attract visitors from out of town," Cr Kirk said.

"It will be a place where community members can relax, sitting around the pond with the background noise of the seven waterfalls.

"We are planning to begin work in August, with the goal of having the main entrance and some of the works completed by November this year when we will be visited by a delegation from Shibetsu to celebrate our 20th anniversary as Sister Cities."

He said $500,000 has been allocated for the Japanese garden project over two financial years, with councillors allocating this money when they created the four-year delivery program in 2017.

The project coincides with the 20th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Goulburn and Shibetsu, which has been a long-standing and culturally-rich exchange.

Another delegation from Shibetsu will be in the region from Monday, November 11 for four days.

Last week, the Shibetsu Student Exchange left for Japan, with 10 young Goulburn residents travelling there with a chaperone for a cultural exchange.

As in previous years, the visit to Shibetsu will be for seven days during the July school holidays.

The council welcomed a youth delegation of seven students from Shibetsu in August 2018.

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