Mayor to officially open community garden on Saturday

COMMUNITY gardens in Point Vernon will be officially launched at an open day on Saturday from 9am to noon.

The gardens, next door to the Halcro Street Community Centre, will grow fruit and vegetables and also has a sensory garden for carers and people in care.

Fraser Coast Mayor Gerard O’Connell will officially open the facility.

The event includes tours, demonstrations, a garden bed working bee and a sausage sizzle.

Healthy communities co-ordinator Maureen Murphy said a group of local job seekers had been working hard with council’s outdoor crews to put the finishing touches on the gardens including turfing the area and landscaping.

“The crews have done a fantastic job and it’s really starting to come together,” she said.

“A shade and picnic structure has been built, as well as raised gardens and they have landscaped the entire area, including paved pathways and planting native trees.

“Council’s Live Life Healthy team held community consultation sessions last year to gauge exactly what features people wanted to be included in the community garden and we have progressed from there.”

The garden will be a place where people can grow fruits, vegetables and herbs, as well as a meeting place to relax and unwind.

Ms Murphy said it would also feature a sensory garden where carers and care recipients could relax and meditate, swap recipes, and share gardening secrets and everything in between.

“We’re also planning workshops covering seeding and gardening, seedling propagation and healthy cooking classes so we really want to hear from groups and residents that would be interested in attending,” she said.

“Having the community centre next door means we can extend the activities to cooking classes, art workshops and seed saving to name a few.

“And anyone can get involved.

“We want people of all ages, from expert gardeners to novices who want to learn more about gardening and sustainable living. It’s a great opportunity for the community to come together and make new friends in a positive environment.

“So I hope to see plenty of people come along on Saturday and check out this fantastic facility.”