Knox Community Gardens digging in to push for expansion at expense of winemaking plans
COMMUNITY gardeners say their vision for a prime Boronia site would require the removal of a vineyard to clear space for expansion.
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COMMUNITY gardeners say their vision for a prime Boronia site would require the removal of a vineyard to clear space for expansion.
And they are digging in to oppose plans that would involve adding a cafe or bringing back wine production.
Instead, they want a multipurpose building with a kitchen where they can teach students and community groups about sustainability.
MOVES TO REFRESH BORONIA VINEYARD AND COMMUNITY GARDENS SITE WITH PRODUCTION OF CRAFT CIDER
VINEYARD AT SCORESBY RD, BORONIA COULD FACE THE CHOP
“We want a social enterprise, rather than a commercial enterprise,” President Susan Laukens said.
“We want this to be an environmental destination.”
The gardeners have been using the 7ha of Crown Land alongside the vines at 254 Scoresby Rd since 1984.
They have 171 members and a waiting list of about three months to get a plot.
Knox Council, who manage the site, is considering a number of concept options on what will happen to the vines and community gardens as part of a masterplan on future use of the site.
Ms Laukens said they wanted more space for plots and a playground for children.
She said that would involve ripping out the vines.
“We feel this is an excellent opportunity to redevelop the site,” she said.
“It’s about adding new parkland, new community space, reactivating the vineyard site into a playground, a multipurpose community house, a sustainability hub. As a community garden we can use that space for food swaps, education, engage with schools and education sessions.”
Ms Laukens said she was against winemaking because it made the area an “alcohol-induced environment” that was not family friendly.
In the past there had been “a number of issues” with the winery, including fears they were overspraying, she said.
BORONIA’S OLD ORCHARD VINEYARD LEFT ‘TO ROT’ BY KNOX COUNCIL
OWNERS DESPERATE TO REOPEN OLD ORCHARD WINERY
However community garden member John Cheeseman, who has had a plot for 10 years, said the two could coexist.
He said the vineyard was a unique feature in the middle of Boronia that was a “drawcard” for visitors.
“I’d be quite happy if the vineyard could be retained,” he said.
“It would be good for tourism.”
The former manager of the vineyard, David Smith, said he and his wife Pat were keen to salvage the vines and he said the surrounding land could be ripe for producing cider.
The Smiths ran the Old Orchard winery at the site for 10 years until their lease expired in 2015.
They now operate a winery, cidery and brewery in Yea, 100km north of Melbourne, but were hopeful they could return to Boronia.
Public feedback on the future of the site can be made until Thursday, July 12 at knox.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay
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