By Matthew Sims
Footscray local Eddie Kwong has described Maribyrnong council’s demands to fill out a landscaping permit and remove the animals from his community garden and animal nursery as “ridiculous”.
A resident of an apartment backing onto Footscray Park, he has been developing the garden for about 12 years, which now includes the world’s tallest ‘flower tower’, vegetables and a wide array of animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens.
Mr Kwong said the garden was popular among people of all ages, with visitors allowed to pick up and pet the animals.
Launched about a week and a half ago, a petition has since attracted more than 1750 signatures in support of retaining the space.
Maribyrnong acting chief executive Laura Jo-Mellan said the council had supplied Mr Kwong with an application for the required landscaping permit seeking formal permission for the extension of the property’s garden into community space, as well as a notice to comply.
“Council supports the beautification of community spaces, but a landscaping permit is required for works on public land to ensure any plantings are consistent with other plantings in the area and don’t exclude or create any hazards for the community,” she said.
“Animals are, however, required to be housed on private property for community safety, ownership and liability reasons.
“However, Council officers have committed to undertake a full assessment of the situation, including further discussions with the property owner, and no further action will be undertaken until this is completed.”
Mr Kwong said the community garden had become a popular attraction for the Footscray community, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an estimated 15,000 visitors since he first started the garden.
“It’s so nice and beautiful,” he said.
“I want it to become a Footscray Park attraction.”
Mr Kwong said he had also installed lighting at the site to discourage people from loitering around the site at night.
Details: petitions.sumofus.org/petitions/save-footscray-park-s-community-garden-2a-ballarat-rd-footscray
