Thursday, 24 September 2026

 Sonja TERPSTRA (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:41): (2840) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety. For nearly 70 years Bulleen Art & Garden has been a vital institution for the City of Manningham and the state of Victoria. Beyond its role as a premier destination for gardeners, it serves as a cherished social hub, combining plant nurseries, art spaces and community education on sustainable living. The high social and cultural value of Bulleen Art & Garden has been repeatedly recognised at the highest levels. The independent advisory committee for the North East Link Program (NELP) environment effects statement highlighted BAG’s extraordinary community support, describing it as a local institution that brings people together for a positive common cause. The Minister for Planning’s own EES assessment explicitly agrees with the IAC recommendation, noting that Bulleen Art & Garden should be offered every opportunity to continue operating by avoiding or minimising acquisition impacts. The Birrarung-Bolin Framework Plan 2024 recognised Bulleen Art & Garden as a cultural icon in the area.

Following the acquisition of nearly half of Bulleen Art & Garden’s site for the North East Link works, the business was granted a short-term licence on offset land to keep operating. Bulleen Art & Garden has invested significantly and endured substantial operational turmoil to adapt to this temporary footprint. While written assurances were previously provided by the project authority, including a December 2022 letter from NELP’s director of land acquisition anticipating a long-term lease aligned with Bulleen Art & Garden’s current lease, recent communications indicate that no decisions will be made until after project completion in 2028, which leaves the future use of the land subject to an undetermined process by an unknown authority. Without long-term tenure, this iconic community and cultural asset faces unacceptable operational uncertainty. Therefore the action I seek is for the minister for roads to make good on previous commitments to secure a long-term lease guarantee for Bulleen Art & Garden over the offset land following the completion of the North East Link project.