Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has described the Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre as a destination to place on the bucket list.
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Mr McCormack made the statement on Wednesday, March 6 while announcing a $307,442 grant for the garden through the Building Better Regions Fund.
He said the funding will be used to replace the roofs of the Cultural Centre and Bonsai House.
"This announcement is for the future to replace a roof badly past its use by date," he said.
"There's been a wonderful recognition of friendship, respect and understanding built up through these iconic gardens.
"This is such a great thing for Cowra and the visitors who come to this centre and want to spend time reflecting while going through these beautiful gardens.
"They are beautiful gardens, probably the most exquisite gardens in all of Australia and people who haven't been here should put it on their bucket list," he said.
Chair of the Japanese Garden, Bob Griffiths, said the current roof doesn't hold up to the Australian climate.
"We are only getting a 20 to 30 year lifespan out of the current shingles so the option now is to go to traditional Japanese ceramic tiles similar to whats on our new entry gate," he said.
"It saves us the worry of damage to our beautiful exhibits in the cultural centre, we've already had water damage through the current shingles and the worry of fire. We've been terrified by what could happen if a bush fire was to erupt next to the premises.
"It also save us ongoing maintenance, we are continually replacing shingles whenever we get a big windstorm."
Cowra's Mayor, Bill West, said the funding was greatly appreciated and would go a long way in improving the facility.
"As the Deputy Prime Minister said it (the garden) is in some regards a jewel in the crown of the Cowra/Japan relation and indeed the Japan/Australia relationship," he said.
"This particular garden is important because it is the link between the POW camp, the Australian and Japanese war cemeteries and the World Peace Bell.
"It's more then just a beautiful garden in a beautiful part of Australia, it has a great and deep symbolical importance as well and that is something we need to remember," he said.
