- 14 applications for community gardens totalling $101,362 have been approved for funding by the State Government
Successful funding recipients for the 2018-19 Community Gardens Grants Program have now been announced.
The Community Gardens Grants Program, facilitated by the Department of Communities, supports the establishment and further development of community gardens throughout Western Australia.
Community Services Minister Simone McGurk said the funding would be used to encourage community members to actively participate in community life, connect with the environment and other people, and to use their skills to give back to the community.
Successful recipients include:
- The Kununurra Community Garden will use the funding to develop a Multicultural Tucker Garden with herbs, fruits and vegetables from a variety of different countries. Food and nutrition workshops, field trips and busy bees will also be held to engage the local community;
- The Dunsborough Community Garden will make their garden more accessible to older community members and members with disability by building a series of raised garden beds and a limestone pathway;
- United Way West Australia Inc. will create a sensory space where the community can come together. The garden will feature raised garden beds, a book swap box, a tea garden for the community to pick and brew their own tea and seated areas. Community volunteers will be involved in all aspects of the planning and delivery of the project; and
- The Shire of Quairading will develop a permaculture garden at the Quairading Youth Centre free of chemical and artificial fertilisers. The garden will include a chicken coop, aquaponics and a worm farm along with a fruit orchid. The garden will be accessible to young people at the youth centre as well as the broader community including seniors and people with disability to help build intergenerational connections.
Under the program, the Department of Communities provides grants of up to $10,000 per project, which are offered through an annual funding round.
As noted by Community Services Minister Simone McGurk:
"The Community Gardens Grants Program aims to encourage community members to actively participate in community life, whilst connecting with the environment by growing their own healthy produce.
"Community gardening provides an opportunity for people to come together and develop a greater understanding between neighbours and other community members. Getting involved in local community garden projects helps people to improve community connections, develop new skills and share the physical, social and mutual benefits of growing edible produce.
"The State Government is committed to partnerships with the not-for-profit sector and local government authorities to provide meaningful spaces for community interaction through community garden initiatives.
"I'm pleased to see that a diverse range of organisations have received substantial grants this year to develop exciting initiatives, and I look forward to seeing these 14 projects take shape over the coming year.
"I encourage Western Australians to consider joining their local community gardens."
