Community Garden consulted about new policy

Woy Woy Community Garden is being consulted by Central Coast Council about a new community garden policy.

Cr Jillian Hogan accompanied a council staff member on a visit to the garden last Tuesday, February 5 , which came while the group was still coming to terms with an arson attack on January 20.

Garden founder Ms Jill Meredith hosted the visit.

"We're trying to turn a negative into a positive but emotionally it's a bit of a rollercoaster,'' Ms Meredith said.

The garden has so far raised $3000 for a new garden shed after a fire burnt out a container which housed all the garden's equipment.

Community gardens are on the council agenda after Cr Kyle MacGregor asked the council if it had a community garden policy or program.

The answer came at the first meeting of the council this year.

"Community Gardens are currently managed using the procedures of the two former Councils,'' a staff report said.

"Staff are in the process of preparing a consolidated draft Community Garden Policy. This policy is being prepared with the input of key stakeholders and will be brought to Council for consideration in the first quarter of 2019.''

Cr MacGregor said he asked the question after attending the opening of a "wonderful new community garden in my ward at Dunbar Way in North Gosford late last year".

"Attending this event was inspiring to see the way that it brought people together and created great benefits for local residents.,'' he said.

"I saw how the garden was a social place that brought people together and provided a sense of community as well as activity and even fresh produce for the people that lived in the area.

"I was pleased to see the response that council is developing a consolidated community garden policy and I hope that this leads to the delivery of many more community gardens.

"These are the kind of initiatives that prompted me to run for council, freely available public spaces that bring people together, generate community and create social cohesion amongst our community.

"Community gardens and the like are essential pieces of community infrastructure that are led by and provide a sense of ownership to people in their community.

"I look forward to the further introduction of more community gardens across the coast in the near future."

SOURCE

Central Coast Council agenda 5.8, 29 January, 2019

Interview 5 February 2019

Jill Meredith, Woy Woy Community Garden

Media statement, 6 Feb 2019

Cr Kyle MacGregor, Central Coast Council

Reporter: Merilyn Vale