Community garden in air

The future of Palmerston North’s Crewe Community Garden could die in the dirt as the city council delays a decision about leasing it some land in Awapuni.

The council has turned down a proposal to relocate the garden from Hokowhitu to Alexander Park because of objections from the neighbours.

That has sent it back to consider a downsized option at Awapuni Park, which would enable retention of mature trees community submitters wanted to protect.

No decision is likely before the end of October, and that has made parent group Pascal St Community Trust spokesman Jono Naylor nervous about whether the project can survive.

‘‘We’re left in limbo.

‘‘We would love to keep the garden going, but the longer this drags out, the more difficult it is to rebuild momentum.’’

Naylor said it was already uncertain whether a new garden site could be up and running this summer once the spring planting season was lost.

‘‘We can’t move in and plant straight away. We have to construct the beds first, and we are not going to have them ready overnight.’’

The garden’s timber and soil was being stored at its previous Ashford Ave home, where the property had been sold and was being prepared for a housing development.

Naylor said it would be difficult and expensive if the group had to shift and store its gear at an interim site before its final home was decided.

Councillor Lorna Johnson voted against deferring a decision to lease part of Awapuni Park.

She said if a season’s planting and growing was lost, the members of the community garden were likely to disburse and the whole enterprise could be lost.

‘‘Community gardens are very beneficial, not just in terms of produce, but for the community cohesion and social interaction and community development.’’

Councillor Aleisha Rutherford said the council needed to take time to ensure the local community was in favour of the Awapuni Park proposal.