By Laura Michell
Whittlesea Community Connections will develop a community farm to grow food and showcase the use of recycled water after receiving a $1.5 million state government grant.
The grant, which is part of the government’s $48.4 million funding boost for water infrastructure projects, will enable WCC to develop a farming enterprise.
The project will use class A and class B recycled water and will provide food for distribution via the Whittlesea Food Collective.
The project, which is a partnership between WCC, Yarra Valley Water, Whittlesea council and Melbourne Polytechnic, will also provide volunteering, education and employment opportunities in best-practice sustainable agriculture systems suitable for peri-urban areas.
WCC chief executive Alex Haynes said there were a number of benefits to the Whittlesea Community Farm project.
“This is such an exciting partnership to deliver significant health, wellbeing, participation, training and employment opportunities for people in Whittlesea and the outer north,” she said.
Thomastown MP Bronwyn Halfpenny said: “Improving our local facilities is vital for our growing community, ensuring we have the right facilities for our community to enjoy.
“I am so proud to be part of a community that is so creative, innovative and caring of others.”
