Case Study - Busselton Community Garden

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Case Study

- Busselton Community Garden

www.healthyplaces.org.au

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Last updated 29 May 2009

This project was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

Busselton Community Garden, Western Australia

In BriefTown/Region BusseltonState Western AustraliaContext Regional Town Target Group All, specifically people who have small urban

lots and those in rental properties Organisation(s): Busselton Community Garden Incorporated

Timing ofDevelopment

Stage 1 to be completed February 2009,Stage 2 due to be completed mid 2010

Weblink http://www.busseltoncommunitygarden.org.au

Key Principles People engaging in regular physical activitySense of belongingSense of placePositive health impacts



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OverviewCommunity gardens can be a local solution to addressing sustainability and health.Growing food locally can contribute to creating a sense of community, increase thephysical activity of members and contribute to shared public open space that benefitspeople’s health and wellbeing. The Busselton Community Gardens project was initiatedin spring 2005. With planning approval gained in January 2007 and ground works startedin winter 2007 it is an undergoing development.

OUTCOMES

Successes

• Securing over $130,000 in funding to date, from eight agencies.• Achieving a membership base of over 200 people.• Positive feedback from the community with regular features in the local media.• Education courses consisting of information sessions on composting etc have

been well attended. • Establishing a partnership with the local council, the Shire of Busselton with

bipartisan political support.

Learnings

• Support from council officers and councillors is critical to the project moving

forward. • The construction stage is separate to the ongoing running and maintenance of

the gardens.• Plan for potential delays at the construction stage. • Forecasting a realistic budget may require almost doubling initial budget

estimates.

Costs

• Approximately $90,000 in funding has been received from various agencies tocomplete Stage 1.

• $45,000 has been received for Stage 2 to assist in retrofitting a house withsustainable features.

• Another $70,000 should see the completion of Stage 2.



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Benefits

• Nearly 100 people visit the garden at least once a week. Regular events includebusy bees and solstice parties.

• Social benefits are difficult to measure, but people keep returning and newpeople continue to become members on a regular basis, ideas and thoughts areshared and sense of belonging to a community is being fostered.

• The benefits to the environment are difficult to measure however producing foodlocally can reduce food miles and thereby limit greenhouse gas emissions.

• Health benefits include the benefits of physical activity in working the garden

beds or just physically walking around the garden and having a look. Otherhealth benefits are the eating of organic food and the satisfaction in growing yourown food.

• The chance to bring like-minded people together who don’t just talk aboutimproving things or just complaining but are prepared to get their hands dirty andactually do something.

• Improving the local amenity of the area – the garden looks good, and it is a niceplace to visit.

Links

Australian City Farm's and Community Gardens Network's

http://www.communitygarden.org.au/

Documents

Case Study - Busselton Community Garden