A working group of about 10 people have drafted plans for a garden on church land off Cessnock Road and it is open to all.

“This is community based and driven, we are just the hosts,” Maitland Adventist Church pastor Mark Venz said.

“Religion doesn’t come into it at all.”

Pastor Venz said a recent doorknock had distributed 300 fliers, which prompted a series of meetings to discuss ideas.

On Facebook, the Gillieston Heights Community Garden has 40 members with a keen interest in the project.

The plan is to build the garden into the banks of a gully that receives the north sun.

Contour banks would form the garden beds and help capture rainfall run-off.

These raised beds would make gardening easier for less mobile people.

Maitland Greens convenor John Brown launched a non-political campaign 18 months ago to cultivate interest in such gardens, which are abundant in Newcastle.

Maitland City Council treated a plan for such a garden on a median strip in East Maitland with caution, citing safety concerns, and the concept stalled.

“Maybe this is the way to go, on private land, so it doesn’t need council’s approval,” Mr Brown said.

“Excuse the pun but I hope that it grows.”

Community gardens are a celebrated way to build community spirit and promote ­environmental sensitivity.

“One of the things that Maitland lacks is community spirit, but gardening is something we can all enjoy,” Mr Brown said.

“I still believe Maitland needs a community garden in a central location where people can take ownership of it.”

The Gillieston Heights community garden could host events as well as grow produce.

At the top of the gully a gabion wall – a kind of weeping dam – would create a level ­platform to double as a stage. 

The walls of the gully would act as an amphitheatre for community performances such as Christmas carols.

Additional water for the garden will be ­harvested from the Community Centre roof and stored in a 20,000 litre tank.

“For sustainability sake we need to utilise the available water,” Pastor Venz said.

Gardeners turned out every Sunday last month to prepare compost, set out garden beds and start planting fruit trees.

A car boot sale will raise money in support of a community garden at Gillieston Heights on Sunday.

A variety of second-hand items is expected to be there and sites are still available.

The $15 site fee will help establish the gardens at the hub of a vibrant community.  For more information or to reserve a site phone Mark Venz on 0408 363 696.