Local help needed for garden group plan

The group members are seeking community input on their plan to demonstrate its support. Photo: BILLY HIGGINS

A TEAM of Armstrong Creek green thumbs is seeking local support for its plan to establish a dedicated community garden for the suburb.

Warralily Community Garden 3217 Inc has submitted its plans for a volunteer-run nursery that the group said would help promote health and wellbeing, sustainable living and a strong, connected community.

The idea is seeking community endorsement through City of Greater Geelong planning guidelines.

The planned garden would be at a current easement next to a carpark at Armstrong Creek Community Hub.

Jane Skelton and Brenda Rodda-Winden from Warralily Community Garden Inc want to expand their group to a purpose-built garden at Armstrong Creek. Photos: BILLY HIGGINS

It would include a fenced-off area behind the hub, at least 20 raised garden beds, establishment of fruit trees, a greenhouse, storage shed, plus compost and a worm farm.

One of the Warralily garden group’s leaders, Brenda Rodda-Winden, said the centre could bring together people from all walks of life that now call Armstrong Creek home.

“In our area, across this side of the highway, there’s not a lot of community groups besides sport,” Ms Rodda-Winden said.

“A community garden can be very inclusive, it can unite people of all ages, cultures, all abilities, and bring them together with a common purpose and interest.

“It’s also about learning. I don’t know a lot about growing vegies, so for me and a lot of people it’s been a learning curve.

“It’s something that people appreciate, especially nowadays, to grow your own food.”

Fellow group member Jane Skelton pointed to a bush tucker garden at Narana Aboriginal Cultural Centre and an already active community garden Facebook page as proof of local interest in the plan.

“We want to show the council and the developer that we were keen on doing things to encourage community,” she said.

The group has maintained a smaller garden behind the Warralily estate sales office in recent years and see the community garden as the next stage of their progress.

COGG exhibits plans for garden projects through a community development approach, which it said enables groups to manage the facilities themselves with council support.

The Warralily plan is open now for feedback on the City of Greater Geelong’s website, yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/CGP/warralily-community-garden-inc.