Star Weekly is looking back at the best stories of last year and this is one of them.
A petition has been created in support of Newport Lakes Native Nursery, which is facing possible closure due to Hobsons Bay council’s move to increase the business’s rent.
The petition was created by Friends of Skeleton Creek to demonstrate to councillors how important the nursery is to the community.
This petition, which calls on council to reconsider the terms of the new lease, has amassed almost 2,000 signatures online.
The nursery has been in operation for more than 24 years, working to provide the community with rare native plants.
Owner Nick Pandya said for the last two decades, council has been generous with its rental agreement, leaving him shocked when the new lease was delivered.
“The new lease agreement lists very high rates which is not affordable for our business,” Mr Pandya said.
“As per our last profit statement we know that in order to survive we cannot afford that big of a jump.”
The nursery must sign the lease agreement for the next five years, although Mr Pandya would prefer year by year.
“By year four and five, it will no longer be affordable for us to rent the space,“ he said.
“For the next three years we can afford the rent and grow our plants, but after that we will need to close.”
The nursery supplies plants to individuals, councils, Melbourne Water, conservation groups and schools.
Mr Pandya said he and his staff also enjoy giving free workshops for schools and groups.
“We hope council will consider those factors and not just money. Please give us a lease for year four and five at an affordable rate or an agreement for just the next three.”
The current lease expires at the end of 2024.
Mr Pandya said the previous lease also included water and electricity, now the new agreement lists those outgoings separately in addition to increased rent.
“We are providing the community with rare plants, we don’t sell roses and fruit trees here,” he said.
“For example, we have a different customer base to other nurseries and Bunnings, which have a lot of money coming in.”
Nursery employee Angela Whiffin said if the nursery is forced to close most people won’t know about the history of the native plants.
“We are also open seven days a week, the public can come in at any time and see these plants growing to be able to put them in their gardens and protect them,” she said.
Friends of Newport Lakes president Neil Zimmerman said he was extremely disheartened to hear of the nursery’s possible closure.
“The nursery is one of the few that supplies native plants indigenous to the area,” he said.
“It is a small business driven by environmental and community values by a dedicated and knowledgeable workforce.
“All this experience will be lost as there is little likelihood of finding an alternative workplace in the current rental market.
“If this nursery was to close, not only would we lose a local small business but also a significant asset to the community.”
Representatives from Friends of Skeleton Creek met with Hobsons Bay mayor Matt Tyler and deputy mayor Pamela Sutton-Legaud on Sunday, November 12 to discuss the petition.
Despite leaving without any concrete answers, the group said they left the meeting feeling positive.
Hobsons Bay council said it was unable to respond until it received the petition.
The petition was set to go before the council on Tuesday night, after deadline.
Details: shorturl.at/jvSTX
