Concerns over the location of the proposed Gloucester Community Garden were raised at the first community consultation held about the matter.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
MidCoast Council's engagement team held a face-to-face consultation in the Gloucester council building on Friday November 6 with the community invited to come along, ask questions and raise concerns.
The attendees were divided over the issue.
Members of the Gloucester Croquet Club voiced concerns over the location of the proposed gardens which would be located near their clubhouse. On the other hand, members of the Gloucester Tennis Club, who would also be neighboring the gardens, were in support of the community driven project.
The consultation began with a member of the Gloucester Community Garden project committee, Pippa Robinson, outlining the history behind the project. She explained how a year and a half ago like-minded community members had noticed that many small communities had community gardens and that it was something Gloucester lacked. In order to gather ideas around layout and how to run a community garden, the group travelled around to many different community gardens.
Pippa stressed how important it was to the group to know what kind of garden the community wants.
"We need the input," she said.
According to Pippa, the concept plan for the layout of the garden has changed numerous times since its inception and will continue to change as they receive feedback from the community.
"We only want a small garden," she explained.
The proposed initial garden is set to take up 322 square metres of the whole 1993 square metres of space council is willing to provide.
The plans indicate the first stage of the project is to be built on the number one oval of the patch of land, with scope to expand toward the croquet club if the take up by the community requires it to grow.
At the time of the consultation, council had already received 90 responses to the online survey, a survey that croquet club president Brenda Pennicuik said didn't provide room for people to oppose the garden.
"It's a sporting area and we believe it's in the wrong place," Brenda said.
She has suggested King George V Memorial Park as an alternative.
The consultation was the first in a series planned both in person and via webinar to help council work with the community and project organisers to find the best outcome.
For more information, visit council's website under Have Your Say.
Anne Keen
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
Anne has been a journalist with the ACM (Australia Community Media) since 2016. She primarily works at the Gloucester Advocate but also contributes to the Manning River Times.
