Torquay’s Quay Reserve Community Fruit Orchard has been upgraded with a new automated irrigation system, which would allow the orchard to flourish.
The new system will help make the orchard drought-proof and relieve volunteers of hand-watering 22 trees and other plants.
Volunteer Graeme Biggins said he looked forward to seeing the orchard provide “bountiful fruit for years to come” thanks to the upgrades.
“We recently hosted a Melbourne University PhD student conducting a research project on urban food forestry and she was impressed with what she saw,” he said.
“With a variety of apples, pears, stone and citrus fruits, the orchard has become a wonderful community asset where people can enjoy the setting.”
The Quay Residents Association established the orchard in 2017 and has provided fruit for the community in the past few years with support from the Surf Coast Shire Council.
Councillor Kate Gazzard said she loved to see community groups develop projects that they are passionate about.
“This group has valuably improved and activated this public space and enhanced community connections along the way,” she said.
The upgrade included a working bee to plant indigenous species in a new mounded garden bed and the installation of labels for the trees in the orchard.
The $8500 irrigation upgrade featured funding from the $5000 Council Community Initiatives grant, $2500 from Barwon Water, and $1000 in-kind contributions from community members.
Barwon Water Customers, Community and Strategy general manager Laura Kendall said she was glad to help contribute to a sustainable and liveable community.
“The new irrigation system will reduce water consumption and evaporation and with consistent, regulated flows enhance growth of the orchard and productivity for the community,” she said.
