05 August 2012

Community Orchards

Council recently endorsed the concept of creating more opportunities to grow food within council property and to encourage the growing of food by others. This would include offering fruit or nut trees as a choice when replacing street trees, replacing trees that have reached the end of their life in parks and landscaped ares with fruit or nut trees in consultation with the community. Yesterday, Morrie Hurrel Reserve  in Ramage Street Unley was the first to get this treatment. Over 30 trees had reached the end of their useful life and they were replaced by 70+ fruit and nut trees. Open space for play has been  retained and there has been no changes to the play equipment. The local community have embraced this and turned up in numbers to help with the planting.
However, there are many questions that have yet to be answered in this concept. They are;
Who waters the trees?
Who prunes and does regular maintenance of the trees?
To whom does the fruit belong?
Who will clean up any mess that is left when fruit falls to the ground and is left to rot?
Will it attract rats?
If the answer to any of these is Council then how much extra money will it cost?
What is the cost/benefit  of this?
What do you think? Please share your thoughts as comments.

1 comment:

  1. Interestingly, this is Council's response to my questions. I suggest the answer raises more questions than the original ones.

    Background Morrie Harrell Playground reserve had numerous dead and under-performing mature trees within the confines of the designated garden areas. As with any tree removal process there is a necessity by the Administration to undertake replacement tree program following tree removal. Before replacement planting occurred, a number of residents, via their local Elected Member (Cr Hewitson), posed the idea of replacing these trees with productive, food producing fruit and nut specimens. With food security and the rising cost of fresh produce topical, and support from Council’s Community Sustainability Advisory Group, a concept plan was created. Extensive community consultation occurred in late 2011. Support for this trial concept was overwhelmingly positive. There is also endorsed support from Council by way of the Food Security Strategy which was supported by Elected Members in November 2011 (Item 83 – City Strategy and Policy). Who waters the trees? All areas within the reserve are watered by an automatic irrigation system that will include a dripper system within the garden bed area. Community ownership is a key component of this trial and as such there may be additional watering by community volunteers. Who prunes and does regular maintenance of the trees?The responsibility for maintenance of trees and plants on Council property rests with Council. Local expertise, including trained Council staff, will tend to the pruning, fertilising and other maintenance tasks concerning these trees. To whom does the fruit belong?The residents and community of the City of Unley. Who will clean up any mess that is left when fruit falls to the ground and is left to rot?The responsibility for maintenance of trees and plants on Council property including leaf and fruit drop rests with the Council. In relation to these fruit bearing plants, community consultation revealed the fruit will be keenly harvested, rather than left to drop and rot. Will it attract rats?Any Increase in vermin activity will be closely monitored by Council with appropriate steps taken should this occur. If the answer to any of these is Council then how much extra money will it cost?It is envisaged annual funding spent at this particular reserve will increase by approximately $1000. Additional maintenance funding was anticipated irrespective of whether fruit and nut trees or flowering plants were used. What is the cost/benefit of this?For a relatively small establishment cost, and given food security and the rising costs of fresh produce are topical, this is considered an innovative trial with negligable increased expenditure that delivers benefits that extend to engage community with public space ideally suited to social exchange.

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