Towri Centre Hire Terms and Conditions

The Garden’s Towri Centre, located within the Towri Bush Tucker Garden, is a dynamic space used for education, meetings, children’s parties and events.  Available for hire, the Towri Centre has accessible ramps, a kitchen, a meeting space and a large, covered deck with garden views.

Booking the Towri Centre is subject to these Terms and Conditions. Upon payment of the booking fee, you will be deemed to have read, understood and agreed to these Terms and Conditions.

1. Definitions

1.1 The following definitions apply throughout this document:

Booking Office means the Garden’s Administration Office.  The Booking Office can be contacted via email botanicgarden@wollongong.nsw.gov.au or by phoning 4227 7667 during business hours (9am-4pm, Mon- Fri).

Centre means the Towri Centre building.

Centre Grounds means the public land upon which the Centres are located and include enclosed courtyards and car parks.

Curator means the Curator Botanic Garden.

Garden means the Wollongong Botanic Garden.  The Garden is a service of Wollongong City Council.  A reference to the ‘Garden’ or ‘Garden staff’ are synonymous with ‘Wollongong City Council’ and ‘Council staff’ respectively.

Garden staff means Council employees working at the Garden.

Council means Wollongong City Council, including the General Manager other authorised Council Officers.

2. Booking Details

2.1 Your booking includes exclusive use of the Centre for either 4 hours or 8 hours. This includes setting up and cleaning up.

2.2 Tentative bookings will be held for a period of two (2) weeks (‘Holding Period’). Full payment must be received before the end of the Holding Period to confirm the booking.

2.3 All payments must be made using a method acceptable to Council listed on your invoice.

2.4 Payment will be taken upon confirmation of your booking. Your booking is not confirmed until payment is received in full.

2.5 Additional fees will be incurred if you remain at the Centre for longer than your booking period and/or fail to leave the Centre in good condition and free of rubbish.

2.6 You must ensure that your guests and suppliers (if applicable) leave the Centre before the gates are locked.

3. Booking Changes

3.1 To request changes to the date and time of your Centre booking, you must contact the Booking Office via email. If you wish to extend your booking time from 4 hour to 8 hours, additional fees will apply.

3.2 Your new booking date/time will not be confirmed until:

• a.any additional fees are paid (if applicable); and
• b.you have received a confirmation email.

4. Decorations and Equipment

4.1 The Towri Centre is equipped with a kitchen, cutlery, crockery, 4 movable tables and 24 x upholstered chairs. On the covered deck there are two picnic tables, three long bench seats and two accessible toilets (available for use by all Garden visitors).

4.2 Cut flowers and a table display are permitted. However, any potting medium must come from a known commercial source, to be approved by the Curator.

4.3 Freestanding decorations are permitted.

4.4 The following items/actions are prohibited:

• a.the attaching of balloons, party streamers, signage or other items to trees, buildings/walls or other fixed structures;
• b.the throwing of confetti, petals, rice or the like;
• c.bat and ball games;
• d.sparklers, fireworks, fires (including kerosene lamps), and bamboo torches.

4.5 Failure to comply with clauses 4.2 or 4.4 will result in Garden staff removing any prohibited equipment and/or requiring you and your guests to leave the Garden’s grounds. Law enforcement officers may be contacted to assist Garden staff.

4.6 At least 10 days before the date of the Centre booking, you must provide the Booking Office with details of any proposed equipment and decorations you wish to use.

4.7 Vehicle access is not available. All equipment must be carried or wheeled to the Towri Centre.

5. Music and Sound

5.1 You may use a low-volume, portable speaker or amplifier within the Towri Centre during your booking time and use the power located within the Centre. You must take reasonable steps to minimise the impact of speakers / amplifiers used upon other visitors to the gardens.

5.2 All electrical units using Centre power must be tested and tagged.

5.3 You may have a live acoustic ensemble of up to four (4) people or low-volume pre-recorded music. Bagpipes, drums or other amplification systems (such as electric guitars) are not permitted.

5.4 You may connect to the Smart TV (instructions provided within Centre)

5.5 At least two (2) weeks before the booking date, you must provide the Booking Office with details of music and/ or sound equipment you propose to use during your booking, and if you wish to use the TV.

6. Alcohol

6.1 No alcohol is permitted on Garden grounds or within the Towri Centre.

7. Catering and Kitchen Use

7.1 Food preparation is confined to the kitchen. Grease and food scraps are not to be washed down the sink and should be wrapped and placed in the garbage bags provided.

7.2 The Centre has limited crockery and cutlery available for use. You must place the Centre’s crockery and cutlery in the dishwasher after use.

8. Public Liability

8.1 All third-party suppliers and commercial operators using the Centre must have Public Liability Insurance to the value of $10 million.

8.2 You must provide the Booking Office with a copy of the suppliers' Certificate of Currency at least 14 days before the date of the Centre booking.

9. Access and Parking

9.1 There is no vehicle access inside the Garden grounds.

9.2 Vehicles are not permitted to obstruct any access gates to the Garden grounds, or the flow of traffic in the Garden’s car park.

9.3 You accept that there is no guarantee that parking will be available in the Garden’s carpark or on the street surrounding the grounds.  Upon request, two parking permits are granted to weekend hirers to use the Administration car park for the duration of the hire period.

9.4 Garden staff will unlock the Centre prior to your arrival and lock the Centre after your exit.

10. Cleaning and Care

10.1 You are responsible for leaving the Centre clean and tidy, chairs stacked 4 high, along the wall.

10.2 You are responsible for removing all your equipment and decorations.

10.3 Rubbish can be placed in the bin provided. If additional waste bins required, call Garden staff on 0419 273 818.

10.4 You accept liability for any damage to property, garden beds, trees or other structures within the Garden’s grounds where such damage is caused by any person associated with your Centre booking.  The cost of rectification will be a debt due and payable by you to the Garden.

11. Safety and Emergencies

11.1 You must follow the Garden rules listed on the Botanic Garden website.

11.2 You and your guests must comply with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Food Act 2003.

11.3 Council reserves the right to have you undertake a risk assessment of any activity to be held during the period of hire and for you to identify and implement treatments/methods that ensure the safety of all persons attending the activity and that there is no damage to the Centre.

11.4 You must remain at the Centre during the hire period and is responsible for the Centre’s security, safety of guests and supervising all activities during the hire period.

11.5 When emergency sirens are heard, exit the Centre and follow evaluation instructions provided by Garden staff.

11.6 If there is a fire in the Centre, contact the Fire Brigade on 000 and contact Garden staff on 0419 273 818.

12. Indemnity

12.1 You agree to indemnify the Garden against:

• a.loss of or damage to the Garden itself or Council’s property within the Garden’s Towri Centre; and
• b.claims by any person against Council in respect of personal injury or death, or loss of or damage to any property arising out of or as a consequence of your use of the Garden’s grounds or its facilities.

12.2 Your liability to indemnify the Garden under clause 12.1 is reduced proportionately to the extent that any act or omission by the Garden, Garden staff or other Council officers, contributed to the loss, damage, death or injury.

13. Trading Terms

13.1 The Garden reserves the right to decline booking requests and to adjust or vary these terms and conditions at its sole discretion.

13.2 Your booking is only confirmed:

• a.when the Garden has received full payment; and
• b.you have received a confirmation email from the Booking Office.
  Any subsequent letter or email notifying you of approved or prohibited items will form part of these Terms and Conditions.

13.3 You accept that the Garden may make a site available to another party if payment is not received within the required time.

13.4 Fees are GST inclusive unless otherwise specified.

13.5 You must follow all requests by Garden staff regarding the Site and the conduct of attendees during the booking period.

13.6 You must report any incidents or accidents immediately to the Booking Office and/or Garden staff on duty via 0419 273 818.

14. Cancellations

14.1 Any request for cancellation of your booking must be submitted to the Booking Office via email.

14.2 The following terms apply to cancellations:

14.3 If you wish to cancel your booking on the day of your booking, please contact the Booking Office on 0419 273 818 (a minimum of two (2) hours before the start of your booking period).