A PROPOSED industrial unit complex on land owned by Wests Group threatens to flatten a slice of paradise at the end of an unassuming cul-de-sac in Cardiff.
The community garden on Gorleston Terrace has been a labour of love for Carol and Graham 'Tex' McMurray, who have poured countless hours and hard-earned cash into the project for the last 40 years.
It has become a special place for street celebrations, wedding photographs, a quiet place to ponder and a tiny corner of adventure for kids from the nearby childcare centre thanks to Mrs McMurray's adept green thumb.
"I've always loved gardening, so that's how it started, and I've been doing it ever since," Mrs McMurray said.
"We've got children in the street and everything, and they all enjoy it, it's not just me personally, it's the whole street.
"[If the project goes ahead] I would sell up and move, I couldn't stand to look at a great big concrete wall and buildings that are going to be straight on top of me.
"It would just be devastating, I just couldn't do it."
Wests Group has lodged a $10.3 million development application for a light industrial complex on Munibung Road near the club for a range of businesses, including small business owners and 'start up' companies.
Residents of Gorleston Terrace have made multiple submissions opposing the project, which they argue will impact the community garden, contribute to noise and light pollution and increase the risk of "intoxicated" patrons wandering the area.
In the past, a proposed 76-place childcare centre and car park was approved for the site, but according to the development application Wests no longer intends to move forward with that project.
Wests Group chief executive officer Phil Gardner said childcare facilities may be part of the mix in the future.
"It is an industrial unit development for sale on appropriately zoned land," he said.
"Comments about intoxication etc show a complete misunderstanding of the development which is abutting other light industrial.
"We have have no problem with people maintaining gardens on their own land."
The proposed complex would see 34 units built across five single-storey buildings with car parking.
Mr McMurray said when the couple first moved into the street 53 years ago, the place was "quite a mess".
"People used to come and dump their rubbish and all that sort of stuff, so that's why we had to put a stop to it," he said.
The couple got to work buying all of the mulch and plants for the space, built the seats and stairs themselves and even cleared the land to make way for a small turning circle for cars.
The garden has become home to black cockatoos, possums, lorikeets and frogs in the creek that runs underneath it.
Mr McMurray said he would be devastated if the garden had to go, but said he is more concerned for his wife who absolutely "loves it".
"I think she would just give up," he said.
"She's a horticulturist and she just loves doing her thing with the plants."
Neighbour Nick Milligan said at this stage residents are not sure just how much of the garden they may lose, but said it means a lot to everyone in the street.
"The garden is just this beautiful, idyllic little corner of the street," he said.
"It's a really peaceful spot where the street can get together, particularly in the summer when the weather's nicer.
"I just don't see why they have to take the garden."
The proposed complex would be accessible via two separate driveways from Pendlebury Road.
An Environmental Impact Statement submitted as part of the DA said the proposed development will unlock underutilised parts of a large and well-located site for new development.
"No major negative social impacts of the proposal are anticipated," it said.
The DA has been lodged with Lake Macquarie council.
