ordinary meeting 3 - cairns regional council

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Agenda – Ordinary Meeting 11 May 2016 - #5086530

ORDINARY MEETING

11 MAY 20163

PROPOSED COMMUNITY GARDEN OVER PART OF MOODY CREEK PARK-MANOORA

Luke Jackson | 10/23/39 | #5065132

RECOMMENDATION:

That Council offers a management agreement over part of Lot 219 on SP167731 known as ‘Moody Creek Park’ to the Manoora Community Garden (The Power of the Pallets Inc. IA41285) for a period of three years.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

The Manoora Community Garden (MCG) - The Power of the Pallets Inc - has submitted an application to Council requesting use of part of Moody Creek Park, Manoora for the purpose of a community garden.

The application has been assessed against the provisions of the Community Gardens Policy and complies with the policy.

Extensive community consultation has been undertaken and the proposal was largely supported by the community.

It is recommended that the proposed garden be approved by Council subject to conditions under a management agreement for a period of three years.

BACKGROUND:

Community gardens are becoming popular across the country as they offer communities the opportunity to participate in gardening, food production and horticulture whilst also performing an important role in connecting local people. There are four community gardens operating in Cairns presently and there is a high level of interest from various community groups wishing to set up more.

The existing community gardens in Cairns are:

The Stratford Community Garden at the Stratford HallEdmonton Community Garden located at SugarworldThe Bungalow Community Garden on Spence Street, Bungalow which operates under approval from the Department of Transport and Main Roads

Council recently approved a community garden at Holloways Beach.

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The Power of the Pallets are a not for profit incorporated body that run Work For The Dole activities. They also raise money for local charities. MCG approached Council to discuss opportunities to set up a community garden in Moody Creek Park, Manoora in 2015 and suggested a disused open section at the eastern end of the park. This location had been scoped previously by Council as interest had been shown by other groups to set up a garden in the area.

The Site

Moody Creek Park is located adjacent to an access road that connects Marchant Street,Papaya Close, Rambutan Close and Rollinia Close, Manoora (see Attachment 1). The park adjoins the Moody Creek Drainage Reserve which combined, straddle Moody Creek and have an area of 5.95ha. To the north of Moody Creek the park contains basic improvements including a pathway, fitness equipment, play space, bin, bench and tap. The drainage reserve to the south contains two streams and significant riparian vegetation. The site is surrounded by residential dwellings. Wuchopperen is located to the south of the site.

COMMENT:

The proposed location of the garden is on the eastern side of Moody Creek Park in an under-utilised open area that has no pedestrian linkages to surrounding areas (see Attachment 1). The proposed location is clear of vegetation and the site is flood prone. Access is obtained off an unnamed access that links several cul de sacs in the surrounding suburb.

Parks and Leisure, as the asset manager of this park, supports the recommendation within this report. Details of the proposal are provided at Attachments 2 and 3 and are summarised as follows.

Key features of the proposal are:

Garden divided into separate areas including tool shed and storage area, shade trees, community plots, nursery, community food forest, under-cover area, facilities and utilitiesEntire garden fenced (two lengths of the proposed fence already exist as rear boundary fencing to residential units/retirement village)22 garden beds proposed representing 22 cultures in the areaTotal footprint absorbed by the garden approximately 2,000 sqm (i.e. 3% of the total area of the park)Compost bin area with bins that are sealed to reduce odours and deter animalsOperated by members three days a week from 7:45am to 4:15pm. Site will be locked after 5:00pm every day. A key to the site will be available at the Manoora Community Centre for access on weekendsNo removal of existing vegetation/trees is necessary or proposedParking will be on street in the adjacent street.

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The proposed garden complies with the requirements of the Community Gardens Policy and Guidelines as follows:

it is sited close to on street car parkingit is located adjacent to high density housing it absorbs a small area within the park (3% of the park area is taken up by the garden)it does not adversely impact on the current utility of the park. Pedestrian access, open usable areas, existing vegetation, kick about spaces and play spaces will all be maintained in the park for the enjoyment of the publicit is located in an area which is under-utilised, has no structures, has limited vegetation, is not contaminated, is unencumbered and is flat landit is permitted in the Open Space Planning Area under the Planning Scheme and does not require a development approvalit will provide an opportunity for local residents to participate in food production for their own purposesit will be designed to ensure that there is no adverse impact on flooding to upstream or downstream propertiesit will provide a platform for people of all ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds in the community to interact and participate.

Terms and Conditions

Offer a management agreement to MCG subject to the following terms and conditions:

for use as a community garden and related activitiesin accordance with Council’s Community Gardens General Policy

in accordance with Part 4 Not for Profit Community Groups of the policyfor a term of three years from a date to be determinedMCG being responsible for any water connection and supply costs to the site if required, which will be required to be separately meteredMCG being responsible for all reasonable costs associated with the preparation, execution and registration of the document.

OPTIONS:

Option 1

That Council offers a management agreement over part of Lot 219 on SP167731 known as ‘Moody Creek Park’ to the Manoora Community Garden (The Power of the Pallets Inc. IA41285) in accordance with in accordance with the Community Gardens General Policy and Managing Tenure over Council Property General Policy.

Option 1 is the preferred outcome as:

The area of the park chosen is rarely used and the proposal provides an opportunity to activate the space and engage the community in gardening the proposal and location provide a high degree of compliance with policy/guideline requirements as outlined above

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the use of part of the park for a garden will not adversely impact surrounding neighbours in terms of noise or general activity above and beyond what would normally be experienced in a park of this sizethe proposal will provide an opportunity for the community to come together to produce their own food.

Option 2

That Council does not endorse the recommendation and advises the Manoora Community Garden to find another location.

Option 2 is not the preferred outcome as:

there is no other centrally located park of this size nearby which can accommodate the garden without adversely impacting on the function and utility of the parkalternative locations within the park have already been explored and eliminated.

CONSIDERATIONS:

Risk Management:

The risks associated with the garden are very low. Any fertilisers, gardening equipment and the like that could pose a danger to the general public will be kept inside the shed within the fenced area. The proposed garden will be fenced which will minimise vandalism and crime in the space at night.

Council Finance and the Local Economy:

There are no budget implications for the proposal to Council, as the set up and operation of the garden are to be paid for by the MCG. The project would be funded by NEATO and from grants.

Community and Cultural Heritage

The community garden is proposed to be a cultural space whereby the diverse cultures of the community can share their knowledge of horticulture and plants in the garden. It is proposed to have 22 different garden beds that incorporate the 22 different cultures in the suburb. The site is proposed to be an educational space and a community meeting space where residents can be educated in sustainable gardening practices.

Natural Environment

The garden is proposed to be developed in a cleared area of the park which contains grass and a pathway only. The proposal to plant a native food forest will complement the existing riparian vegetation along Moody Creek and improve wildlife habitat.

Corporate and Operational Plans:

This report was prepared in accordance with Corporate Plan Strategic Goal 1(Community) and 2 (Economy).

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Policy:

The management arrangement will be prepared in accordance with Community Gardens General Policy and Part 4 Not for Profit Community Groups of Council’s Managing Tenure over Council Owned or Controlled Property.

CONSULTATION:

The proposal underwent community consultation for a period of two weeks from 19 March 2016 to 4 April 2016. Consultation included:

Have Your Say websiteSurvey posted to 80 surrounding residents with postage paid return envelopeOn site signage.

Council received 14 responses to the proposal. 71% of respondents supported the proposal while 29% were against the proposal. Objections to the proposal were as follows:

Area gets floodedBring more drunks and fighting to the park. More drinking.

The issues raised above are not considered significant enough to warrant refusal of the proposal for the following reasons.

The applicant is aware that the site is subject to flooding. The applicant has provided the following with respect to this matter:

The main flooding will arise from Moody Creek in the wet season. We have placed the Food Forest along the existing bushland to form a barrier. Also the garden beds will be raised for extra protection against flooding and to also contain the sediment in the garden beds.

Council’s senior drainage engineer has advised that the site and surrounding area is subject to flood in a 1 in 5 year rainfall event or higher. However, flood waters at the site are not part of the main stream flow and would result in minor ponding before they dissipate. The proposed garden, fence and shed will not result in a worsening flood impact to surrounding properties. Any costs incurred as a result of damage to fencing, sheds or the like in the event of a flood are to be borne by the MCG. This will be a condition of the management agreement.

With respect to drinking and fighting, the garden will improve surveillance and activity in the area during times that it is open. People involved in the community garden will use the garden during the day, whilst the general public will not enter unless they are involved in the garden. The site is to be fenced. This will prevent the use of the site by the general public at night and eliminate problems of fighting and drinking for adjoining neighbours. It is not considered that the use of the site for a community garden would increase the propensity for drinking and fighting at the site, in fact the opposite is anticipated to occur.

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ATTACHMENTS:

1. Location of Moody Creek Park and proposed Community Garden, Manoora2. Community Garden Layout3. Community Garden Proposal and Management Plan

Luke JacksonParks and Natural Areas Planner

Brett SpencerManager Parks and Leisure

Linda KirchnerGeneral Manager Community, Sport and Cultural Services

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ATTACHMENT 1: Location of Moody Creek Park and proposed Community Garden, Manoora

Moody Ck Park

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ATTACHMENT 2: Community Garden Layout

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ATTACHMENT 3: Community Garden Proposal and Management Plan

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ordinary meeting 3 - cairns regional council

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