No, Council has not yet determined the exact suitable location, although the space required for a functional community garden is approximately five hundred m2.

Council will work with Brooklyn residents and the Patch in The Park Community Garden Group jointly to gauge the community support for the community garden development, and then assist with the design, start up works as well as support the community garden group with the development of a strong governance model to ensure its future success.

No, the plan will be developed and designed by Council staff in consultation with the local community and the community garden group. Once broad support for the project is established, we will commence the design process.

No. No trees will be removed, and the design of the garden space will be fully integrated with the overall park. The idea is to build a safe, accessible inclusive space, which encourages health and wellbeing and most of all community connectiveness.

Ideally the main part of the garden would not be fenced, however consideration needs to be given to the safe storage of tools and equipment and ensuring dogs are prevented from digging in the garden beds. If fencing is included it will be very low, sympathetic to the park and permeable so the garden can be seen from all angles of the park. Gates to the main garden area would remain open and accessible to all park users.

Smell and odour from composting vegetation and fertilisers is a big concern, as is the potential for increased rodents and pest animals such as foxes and rabbits. How is Council going to make sure this does not occur?

Council is aware that, just like any other home garden, poorly managed systems in community gardens have the potential to attract rodents or create unpleasant smells. For this reason, correct design and management of the garden is important. The management of any compost on site will need to be incorporated into a detailed community garden design and form part of a formal lease agreement between Council and the community garden group. The conditions of the lease and ongoing compliance will be monitored and managed by Council.

The garden group will have a formal lease which will specify particular requirements and expectations by Council. The most likely form of anti-social behaviour for community gardens in park locations is the theft of produce as opposed to vandalism. Council will collaborate with the local community and the community garden group to monitor and address these issues if and should they arise.

Sounds great in theory but what if the garden is messy and unattractive and what if interest dies out and no one wants to maintain it? How will Council ensure any community garden is well maintained and aesthetically appealing, so that it adds value to our local park rather than and eye sore?

In addition to broader local community support, Council will require the community garden group to undertake and deliver on a number of key steps before approval to develop a garden will be given and these include the following:

• A description of the groups proposed management model
• A detailed design plan which includes the garden lay out, size (footprint within the Park) materials to be used.
• Public Incorporation, public liability insurance, and the development of a sustainable and forecast business plan.
• A formal lease agreement that specifies both Councils and the Community Garden group’s responsibilities in relation to the management of the garden and space. An initial lease agreement would be provided for a 2-year month period and then reviewed.

These measures will ensure a successful implementation of a design plan and adherence to the lease agreement, including and most importantly, the appearance and maintenance of any allocated site.