Cairns Regional Council's decision to install a simple tap which will allow the Nautilus Street garden to continue to flourish may help them claw back some much needed public support.

The beautiful streetscape is mostly the result of hard work undertaken by a small team of volunteers, headed by the remarkable James Watson.

As reported in The Newsport article 'Icon left high and dry' (Wednesday, 20 June 2012) the inability to source water for a portion of the garden threatened its future until Council approved the installation of a tap earlier this week.

Public support for James was strong, and surely influenced the decision.

Division 10 councillor Julia Leu told The Newsport on Tuesday that she contacted Cairns Water chief Bruce Gardiner to outline the issue and requested a prompt resolution.

She praised council workers who have assisted in the maintenance of the Nautilus streetscape, and said council should support volunteer efforts with the garden being indicative of a movement across the community as momentum for the Port Douglas Community Garden grows.

Need a tradie? Check out our Trades and Services Directory.

Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Bank in Port Douglas has shown their support for the community garden, donating $500 to the organising committee for the purpose purchases tools and other much needed 
equipment.

"As a branch we all sat down and decided that what these guys are doing for the garden is awesome," Miranda Clark from Commonwealth Bank Port Douglas said.

"We had a couple of other options (for funding) but we wanted to go with something which will benefit everyone in the community."

Community Garden Project Manager Kevin Eldridge said the support of the Commonwealth Bank is a big help in making the garden a reality.

"It's great that a large corporation can be seen on the ground as a grassroots thing with the community.

"They've been hands on since the garden festival, since the CD launch, and again will be proved at the sausage sizzle (at this Sunday's markets).

"It might allow other larger firms and businesses in the community to realise that this partnership is beneficial to the entire community."

He said the group of 50 volunteers are waiting for the State Government to provide their site management plan, at which point garden designs can be created.