Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Bidwill Garden Springs To Life

Media release

23 February 2018

Bidwill residents have transformed an unused block of land into a flourishing community garden with help from Blacktown City Council.

Deputy Mayor of Blacktown City Tony Bleasdale officially opened the garden in Lindley Square on Saturday, 24 February.

“Council has supported a number of community projects in Bidwill, and we are thrilled we have again been able to lend a hand in making another positive initiative a reality for locals,” Cr Bleasdale said.

“Lindley Garden is an inclusive place where people from all backgrounds can grow their own fruit and vegies, or simply enjoy the beauty of the space and each other’s company.

“Looking around the garden, you can see this vision has come to fruition: the community has come together to celebrate a project that has brought out the best in the neighbourhood.” 

The garden was the brain child of Therese Wilson, a long term resident of Lindley Square, Cr Bleasdale said.

“Ms Wilson got in touch with Council and asked if the council-owed space in Lindley Square could be converted into a community garden,” he said.

“Council was happy to help and successfully applied for funding from the Department of Family and Community Services Social Housing Community Improvement program to develop the garden.

“The funding, worth almost $38,000, enabled Blacktown Arts Centre staff to hire artists David Hawkes and Abbas Makrab to work with Therese Wilson and other residents to develop the designs for the garden. 

“I thank all the residents, the artists, Family and Community Services, and Council staff for their joint efforts in bringing this project to life.”

Ms Wilson said she was amazed at what she and her neighbours in Lindley Square had achieved. 

“My goal was simply to grow healthy food and all this extra wonderful stuff has come out of it,” she said.

“Not only do local families have access to nutritional affordable food, but the garden has really brought the whole neighbourhood together.

“Before nobody spoke to anybody. Now everyone is talking to everyone.

“Petty crime, littering and vandalism has stopped. That’s been achieved by having the garden here and having the bulk of residents on board and being watchful of troublemakers. 

“The outcomes have just been amazing.”