Decision details

Moved by Councillor Chung, seconded by Councillor Phelps -

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          staff recently met with members of the Erskineville Road Community Garden to discuss repurposing the land for high density development use where the Community Garden is currently located;

(ii)         the 300sqm site is currently zoned R1 and had not been utilised up until 11 years ago when the community began actively caring for the land, through community gardening and composting;

(iii)        there is approximately 5,200kg of food waste composted through the community garden per year reducing the carbon emissions output for the Erskineville area, creating a positive environmental impact;

(iv)       the Open Space, Sports and Recreational Needs Study identifies that Community Gardens add to the recreation diversity of the Open Space Network; and

(v)         community gardens serve as significant connectors within our community and enhance the mental and physical well-being of the community;

(B)        Council reject any proposal to repurpose 54 Erskineville Road (Erskineville Community Garden) for development use;

(C)       Council confirm its support for the Erskineville Community Garden in its existing location; and

(D)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to write to the Erskineville Community Garden affirming Council's support for the garden and advising of Council's rejection of proposals to construct high density housing on the site.

Variation. At the request of Councillor Scott, and by consent, the motion was varied such that it read as follows -

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          staff recently met with members of the Erskineville Road Community Garden to discuss repurposing the land for high density development use where the Community Garden is currently located;

(ii)         the 300sqm site is currently zoned R1 and had not been utilised up until 11 years ago when the community began actively caring for the land, through community gardening and composting;

(iii)        the Erskineville Community Garden has been created and successfully run by the local Erskineville community for over 11 years;

(iv)       there is approximately 5,200kg of food waste composted through the community garden per year reducing the carbon emissions output for the Erskineville area, creating a positive environmental impact;

(v)         the Open Space, Sports and Recreational Needs Study identifies that Community Gardens add to the recreation diversity of the Open Space Network; and

(vi)       community gardens serve as significant connectors within our community and enhance the mental and physical well-being of the community;

(B)        Council reaffirm its commitment to supporting well-run community gardens in the City;

(C)       Council reaffirm its commitment to increasing affordable housing and meeting set targets across the City; and

(D)       Council agree to postpone any consideration of current or future use of the site until:

(i)          a comprehensive report is provided on the current level of toxicity or otherwise of the soil at the Erskineville Community Garden; and

(ii)         an understanding is gained on the level of interest of the public housing sector in the development of affordable housing in the area.

A show of hands resulted in an equality of voting as follows -

Ayes (5)          Councillors Chung, Forster, Phelps, Scott and Vithoulkas

Noes (5)          The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Kok, Miller, Scully and Thalis

The Chair (the Lord Mayor) exercised her casting vote against the motion.

The motion was declared lost.

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