Thursday, 22 June 2023

Patch in the Park

Melissa HORNE (Williamstown – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Ports and Freight, Minister for Roads and Road Safety) (10:31): Over the weekend I met with Brooklyn residents Ruth, Brian and Kelly, who are some of the inspiration behind a new community group Patch in the Park. It was great to catch up with them to discuss how their plans for establishing a community garden in the heart of Brooklyn, thanks to $250,000 in this year’s state budget, will really help to transform Brooklyn. It will contribute to a great community outcome, allowing people to have a plot and have their very own veggie garden. This land is adjacent to the newly developed Brooklyn hall that Hobsons Bay council is overseeing, and the community is excited by this too.

Patch in the Park sees an opportunity for the produce that the community grows and harvests to then be used in the community kitchen in the hall to bring people together, teach people new skills and really contribute to the wellbeing of the community. They are keen to get started with the design of the garden. They have already contacted the successful community garden in Altona to understand how they operate, what sort of governance is in place and how they have a peppercorn lease for the land with the Hobsons Bay City Council. They want an open and inclusive and accessible place that encourages people to gather in and around DN Duane Reserve and become a real hub for Brooklyn residents. There is nothing more satisfying than growing your own fruit and veggies, and I am really keen to see this project, with the significant funding, for the Brooklyn community get underway so that people can get out, start planning, harvesting and enjoying fabulous produce and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.