Page 2089 - Week 07 - Thursday, 24 June 2021
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Answers to questions
Municipal services—community gardens
(Question No 227)
Ms Castley asked the Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, upon notice, on 14 May 2021:
(1) In relation to a response from the Suburban Land Agency to a constituent about a community garden at Throsby in which the agency stated that “The Suburban Land Agency has not purchased any hydrological or water flow studies to determine the suitability of the proposed location for a community garden”, could The Woodlands and Wetlands Trust (the Trust) apply for the license from Transport Canberra and City Services without the survey.
(2) Who is responsible for making the site fit for use as a community garden, the Trust or the ACT Government.
(3) Could the Trust apply for an ACT Government grant to assist with the costs, if the Trust is responsible for making the site fit for use as a community garden.
(4) Besides the granting of the license to use Public Open Space, what other roles does the ACT Government have to play in the process of establishing the community garden.
Ms Berry: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) Licensing and Compliance, a unit within Transport Canberra and City Services administers licensing arrangements associated with land use requests on public unleased land and could accept a licence application for consideration. For relevant guidance on establishing a community garden, information is available in the 2016 Guide to Community Gardens in the ACT at https://www.planning.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/898443/Guide_to_Community_Gardens_in_the_ACT_-_ACCESS.pdf
(2) The proponent or community group submitting a licence application would be responsible for making the site fit for use as a community garden. However, the structure or governance will be determined when the future of the site is confirmed. Community Organic Growers Society Incorporated (www.cogs.asn.au) has information available about governance and the operations of community gardens in other ACT locations.
(3) The Trust could apply for an ACT Government grant to be considered and assessed however the proponent or community group is responsible for making the site fit for use as a community garden.
(4) The role of the ACT Government in the process of establishing the community garden is outlined in the 2016 Guide to Community Gardens in the ACT.
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