Sustainability group to put down roots
03 May 2011
Sustainability designers Urban Reforestation has patched up its differences with the authorities and will continue to call Docklands home.
The group had become frustrated by months of bureaucratic indecision about the future of the current temporary and planned permanent Docklands community gardens.
But founder and director Emily Ballantyne-Brodie says she is encouraged by being offered an ongoing role in the permanent garden in Victoria Harbour.
She said the temporary garden was going to be moved to another temporary spot in August to make way for Lend Lease’s plans for a recreational facility on the site.
Urban Reforestation plans to take some of the temporary garden into the central city as a wider demonstration of the importance of green space in urban living.
She said a community board would be formed to run the temporary garden.
“Urban Reforestation has such a wider vision for sustainable living projects than just the garden,” she said. “We have a lot more capacity to grow and make positive changes now that we have been assured of a more permanent base,” she said.
VicUrban’s acting Docklands general manager Simon Wilson said: “VicUrban is excited to be working with the City of Melbourne, Lend Lease and other key stakeholders to plan for a more permanent community garden to be centrally located within the Victoria Harbour precinct.”
Urban Reforestation is holding a celebratory dinner on May 26. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased by emailing (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
The event will start in the garden at 5.30pm before moving to Urban Reforestation’s premises in Merchant St at 6.30pm.
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