After almost 12 months of negotiations with Lake Macquarie City Council to find a suitable site, members of the Warners Bay community garden group have applied to build their garden in Bunyah Park on Cherry Road at Eleebana.

However, a residents group has formed to oppose the application on the grounds that it would reduce public space and be unattractive.

Environmental group Landcare has also written to the council saying the garden would damage the park’s native ecology.

Spokesman for the 230-member group of gardeners Ben Henley said the Bunyah Park site was perfect.

“We think it has perfect access, with access for the thousands of people who use the walkway around the foreshore every week, access to disabled toilets, it is north facing and lots of people around here live in small units,” he said.

Mr Henley said the people opposed to the site might not fully understand what the group was proposing.

“It’s about bringing people together,” he said

“We are hoping they (nearby residents) will come and get involved.

“It’s not an exclusive project. It is going to be for everyone (and) not locked up.”

Cherry Road resident Garry Freeman said the community garden would take up public open space and be unattractive.

“(We are against) the use of a public park for the sort of activity that will eventually have to happen,” he said.

“They talk about sheds, shelters, shade cloths, water tanks and fencing.

“It can’t be for the community if it’s fenced.”

Lake Macquarie Landcare coordinator John Hughson said he was not opposed to community gardens but was not happy with the proposed site.

“The main issue is about having a community garden (near) an endangered ecological community,” he said.

“Landcare has worked on the site for 10 years trying to restore it.”

Mr Hughson said a garden would add nutrients to the earth and change the surrounding environment, and garden species could escape and become weeds.

The park was chosen by the Warners Bay Community Garden group and the council from a short list of three possible sites in the area, the other two sites are at Lakelands estate and Charles Street in Warners Bay.

A decision on whether Bunyah Park will be used for the community garden is expected to be made at a council meeting late in March.