Nurturing a community’s garden goals

Financial support for Picton’s community garden was boosted recently with Council granting a further $22,400 for establishment works, funded from its Land Subdivision Account.

In March 2022, Council approved $15,500 for the community garden project to help with access, fencing, water supply and signage. The garden was to be established by Envirohub Marlborough through a formal lease. This was signed in December last year.

The seeds of the community garden concept were first sown as part of the 2018-2028 Long Term Plan when Council granted funding for the project at Beach Road Reserve. This did not proceed due to unforeseen circumstances but in late 2021, under the umbrella of Envirohub Marlborough, a small project group met to reignite the community garden proposal. As the Huia Street Reserve site had recently become available, the project group considered this site was preferable.

Parks and Open Spaces Planner Linda Craighead said Envirohub Marlborough’s focus for the initial funding was for the establishment of the community garden itself.

“However, there are other establishment works required including a new water connection, which Envirohub will contribute to from the original funding, a fence, a small car park and the redirection of a small section of the Marina to Marina pathway,” she said. “The car park will be used by those working in the community garden as well as for visitors and users of the pathway.” “With the increased use of this part of Victoria Domain Reserves, there is a need to develop enhanced facilities, much in the same way that playgrounds enhance the use of neighbourhood reserves, once created. These improvements will benefit other users of the area as well as the community garden,” Linda said.