September 4th 2007
A further $780,000 investment into the NSW Government Community Greening program was announced today.
The Community Greening Program will expand to include 80 new garden projects, with a focus on social housing estates and rural areas, including: Claymore, Macquarie Fields, Mount Druitt, Killarney Vale, Bateau Bay, Tumbi Umbi, Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo.
The funding will also continue to support the employment of two senior horticultural experts who will provide expert advice to gardens like Bidwill.
The Community Greening program was established in 2000 and gives new life to social housing by providing open spaces for people to come together and participate in a range of activities, including gardening.
Over 50 acres of land on public housing estates has already been devoted to community greening projects creating a more enjoyable and greener environment for the Department’s tenants.
Around 3,000 residents currently participate in training and environmental activities on the 130 projects active across NSW.
The community greening project has transformed unused land into a variety of native gardens, floral displays, produce gardens, therapeutic gardens and community nurseries.
The Bidwill Community Garden is a great example of a fully sustainable garden which incorporates environmental features such as compost bins and water tanks, and provides fresh produce to the local community.
This partnership goes beyond the garden walls to serve the broader community through innovative environmental education programs, including gardening projects in local schools.
The Iemma Government is meeting it’s commitment under the State Plan to build harmonious communities through services such as these.
These projects give residents a genuine sense of pride and achievement, and teach them new skills such as planning, teamwork and decision-making.