Sod turning ceremony on Saturday for Terrigal’s community garden

After three years of planning and engaging the community for support, the Terrigal Community Garden project is about to break ground on the site chosen for the garden.

Project organisers will hold a Turning of the First Sod ceremony to celebrate the start of the garden on Saturday, May 10, at noon. 

The ceremony will be held at the garden site on the corner of Duffys Rd and Terrigal Dr at the rear of the 50 Plus Leisure and Learning Centre.

Community Garden President Marianne Hamilton said that anyone in the community was welcome to attend.

Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch, Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid and representatives from Central Coast Council have been invited. 

The 1,000sqm site is under licence from the Council.

A year ago, the residents submitted a development application for the garden and that came after a public meeting was held in 2022 to gauge support for the project.

Hamilton said the garden would comprise raised garden beds, tree planting and edible crops.

She said the garden would provide an important place for companionship and connection as well as a sustainable source of food for the community. 

“The initiative will include cultural and educational events related to organic gardening, including workshops,” Hamilton said.

“The community garden will also be accessible to local schools, sharing knowledge of gardening with students of all ages.”

Hamilton said the garden group would continue their fundraising efforts to provide equipment and material to get the garden operational.

“We would like to thank all our supporters, business sponsors and community members and now have more than 430 Facebook members on Terrigal Community Garden,” she said.

“Our hope is that the garden will bring the community together to grow food, share produce, learn about sustainability in a changing world and develop social contacts.”

She said the Terrigal group was a member of the Combined Community Gardens group on the Central Coast which had been providing Terrigal with valuable support and advice in establishing the garden.