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Community food bowl As the price of fruit and vegetables continues to rise, Roxburgh Park Community Garden’s Jessica Walton is encouraging people to grow their own produce. Ms Walton is urging people to consider joining their local community garden to combat “skyrocketing” produce prices. “One of the reasons that I love being a member of the community garden is that I’m able to reduce my impact on the environment by growing my produce close to home,” she said. “And then I also know that it’s organic as well, and also helps you just eat what’s in season at the moment … rather than spending extra money buying produce that’s potentially been in fridges for months, so it’s always fresh.” Anyone wanting to join can arrange to visit the community garden and select an available garden bed. “It’s free to join but you do have some responsibilities as a garden user, you do have to look after the general area,” Ms Walton said. “You do also have to supply your own seeds, or punnets of vegetables from Bunnings and you can grow them in the bed.” Roxburgh Park Community Garden’s Jessica Walton.
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Fire station frustration Craigieburn Fire Brigade captain Chris Gray says firefighters are frustrated the suburb’s new fire station remains unbuilt, more than four years after it was announced by the state government. In April 2018, then Emergency Services Minister James Merlino announced $13 million would be included in the 2018-19 state budget to build an integrated fire station, which would house career and volunteer firefighters. In May last year, a state government spokesperson told Star Weekly the project
remained in the land acquisition phase. Mr Gray said the fire brigade had reached out to the subsequent emergency services ministers, as well as Yuroke MP Ros Spence for updates, to no avail. “About 18 months ago we started asking some questions because we hadn’t heard anything and we got a letter back saying it’s still a proposed co-located brigade and the announcement still holds,” Mr Gray said. “We’re frustrated with the lack of movement on this project and the lack of communication regarding any updates.”
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Last week, a state government spokesperson told Star Weekly a suitable site for the new station has been identified between Dorchester Street and Lygon Drive. The spokesperson said final land purchase activities were under way. However, Mr Gray said the brigade was yet to be notified that a site had been found. “In an official capacity, that hasn’t come to me yet,” he said. According to the state government, the new station will replace the brigade’s current station on Belsay Place, and will include
space for up to five fire trucks, as well as bed accommodation for 12 firefighters. At least eight career firefighters would be based at the station, the government said in April 2018 “The new Craigieburn Fire Station will ensure that our firefighters can continue to keep the Craigieburn community protected now and into the future,” the government spokesperson said. “FRV will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure the new station meets operational and local community needs.”