Japanese garden on island urged

SERENITY: Raked gravel is a feature of Japanese Gardens. This one is in Wanganui.PHOTO/FILE

The building of an authentic Japanese garden on the Queen Elizabeth Park island is among a multitude of submissions to the annual plan lodged with Masterton District Council.

York St resident Jane Ogilvie has put forward the idea suggesting the garden could include maple and cherry trees, statues, raked gravel, weeping willows leaning out over the water and a water feature.

The tea house could perhaps be opened only on weekends.

Mrs Ogilvie has submitted the Japanese garden would be a attraction as there is no garden of its type in the district and it would attract "specialist visitors".

She said the island train could be modified to suit elderly people or visitors with impairments to allow them to comfortably view the garden.

The bridge that spans the lake to give access to the island could be closed off at night to give the garden protection and the whole concept would enhance the experience of those who hire paddle boats for using on the lake.

Mrs Ogilvie said Masterton could even hold a cherry blossom festival as is done in Japan and it might be possible to interest Juken New Zealand in sponsoring the development or to provide advice or expertise in planning the garden.

She said she would be interested in joining a community group to implement or lead the project.

In all 136 people or organisations have lodged submissions to the annual plan, many of them being multiple submissions.

Hearings will begin in the Frank Cody Lounge on Tuesday and carry over on Wednesday.

Karen Monks has submitted a proposal to have a commercial kitchen set up for shared community use.

This would give community groups a certified commercial kitchen for rental and would also support small scale and start-up food producers.

She said the shared-use facility could be key to building economic opportunity, would be environmentally sustainable and would promote community health.

"'It could also play a crucial role in developing a healthy, safe and secure food supply on an on-going basis and during times of crisis," Ms Monks said in her written submission.