Community support saves footpath garden in Joondalup
The Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network has written to the mayor of the City of Joondalup in Western Australia to commend the City on its June decision to retain the footpath garden started by local resident, Marie Hahn of Kingsley.
Council had earlier ordered the removal of the footpath garden. Following the presentation of a petition and publicity in the media, the City responded by rescinding its earlier order.
The incident demonstrates a number of points:
- local government can respond positively to community pressure on urban food production and the socially beneficial use of public land
- communities are capable of lobbying for those things they value
- the Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network had a continuing role in advocating for community food systems (although the City changed its mind before the Network’s planned letter to support retention of the footpath garden was sent).
The Network has advocated in the past for the retention of community gardens as part of what it offers to members and to the community food movement. Advocacy also includes giving credit when it is due, as in the case of the Joondalup footpath garden.
Thanks to those Western Australians who took action on this issue, and thanks again to the City of Joondalup for responding appropriately to community feeling.
Here’s the Network’s letter to the Mayor of Joondalup…