AN AUTHENTIC Japanese inspired garden on Swan Hill’s riverfront will invoke the spirit of sister-city Yamagata, if proposed plans go ahead.
Under the Riverfront Masterplan, the garden would be located between the southern end of the Big 4 Riverside Holiday Park and the Pioneer Settlement.
The idea evolved through the collaboration of the Swan Hill Yamagata Club and Swan Hill Rural City Council, with a council information session last Wednesday outlining the garden development and collating community input.
Garden design ideas so far include seats, stones, pebbles and a water feature.
In July, a delegation from Yamagata will travel to Swan Hill as part of the 35th anniversary of the sister-city relationship and Swan Hill Yamagata Club’s Ross Cox said he was hopeful the Japanese visitors would view the site and plans.
Mr Cox said the garden would be a chance for the wider community to benefit from the strong sister-city relationship, and that it was important for local residents to have their say.
“We’re all rate payers but we want to make sure its done economically as well,” said Mr Cox.
For more on this story, grab a copy of Monday’s Guardian (May 25).
