13 July 2018

ACT Government offers fresh community garden grants

| Lachlan Roberts
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Applications for the ACT community grants program can be submitted until 5 August. File Photo.

Applications for the ACT community grants program can be submitted until 5 August.

The Canberra community is invited to apply for their share of ACT Government’s $40,000 funding available under the expanded ACT community garden grants program.

The $40,000 grants program is running for the fourth year in a row and the second time that Canberrans in units and townhouses are eligible to apply.

The grants program has supported 21 projects across the four years, including community orchards, gardens and a veggie patch that provides food to disadvantaged locals.

Last year, community gardens were established at multi-unit developments in Lyneham and Belconnen after receiving funding from the program.

The ACT Minister for Sustainability Shane Rattenbury said community gardens are “hugely successful” across Canberra and tell a great story about “our increasingly sustainable city”.

“When we work together, sharing resources and responsibility, we all share the rewards,” Mr Rattenbury said.

“Canberra is a sharing city and community gardens address so many of the ACT Government’s priorities: supporting sustainable and healthy living, social inclusion and community engagement.”

The nine successful projects in 2017 that received grants include:

  • a new community garden at Hamilton Park in Lyneham
  • a new multi-unit development community garden at Sentinel Apartments in Belconnen
  • a new shed and tools for the Acton community garden run by the Canberra Environment Centre
  • an extension to the irrigation system in the Mitchell community garden
  • replacement of worn and unsafe equipment and tools used at the Kingston community garden
  • a new Bogong Moth showcase garden in Narrabundah which includes bush tucker and medicinal plants
  • a new Dickson Village Traders Association community garden
  • a new organic and sustainable garden to teach waste, carpentry and organic gardening methods at Manning Clarke House in Forrest
  • extending the community orchard at O’Connor Tocumwal housing precinct.

Mr Rattenbury said the funding is provided to projects that benefit the wider community and enrich the lives of Canberrans.

“Community gardens bring people together and provide opportunities to get outside, get exercise and share more healthy food,” the ACT Minister for Sustainability said. “Community gardens are enriching the lives of countless people while contributing to our city’s climate change resilience and strengthening local communities.”

Applications for funding can be submitted until 5 August 2018.

To apply, click here.

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