10 Apr Laneway Sparks Green Revolution in Surry Hills
(Story and images courtesy of City of Sydney)
Planting builds community spirit in Surry Hills
The transformation of a tiny laneway has sparked a green revolution across Surry Hills.
Ever since a City of Sydney grant helped transform tiny Prospect Lane into a lush community garden, local residents have formed lifelong friendships and attracted more native birds to the area.
Planter boxes are popping up on balconies and outside homes all over Surry Hills, with residents calling for more trees to be planted in the area.
“Greening Prospect Lane has been wholeheartedly supported by everyone in the neighbourhood,” Jeff Newton, of the Prospect Lane Working Group, said.
“Every step of this process has been sustainable, from our choice of native plants, to using recycled bricks to build planter boxes along the lane and watering the plants using rainwater.
“The City’s support has allowed us to successfully turn an undesirable space into a nice little patch of green between two of our lovely Surry Hills streets – and now we’d like to continue greening the entire area!”
The C
ity encourages residents to team up and work on a communal patch of Council land to help bring back the sense of community sometimes missing from inner-city living, while also increasing the neighbourhood’s sustainability credentials
“We are delighted to see the success of this project to create quality open public space in one of our busiest inner-city villages,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said.
“We’re even more pleased to see that it is now acting as a catalyst for change in other neighbourhoods. The Prospect Lane community garden is just one part of our efforts to ensure that our City is more sustainable both now and in the future.
“If you have a great idea that will help enrich cultural and community life in your local community, I encourage you to apply for funding through our Matching Grants Program.”
One of the City’s targets under the Sustainable Sydney 2030 program is to foster a sense of community and wellbeing by nurturing the community spirit in each of Sydney’s villages, and the Prospect Lane Community Garden is doing just that.
The City’s Matching Grants Program offers up to $10,000 in cash to support not-for-profit community or neighbourhood groups with projects that will improve, enhance or celebrate their local village.
The City ‘matches’ the community’s contributions to each project. Community contributions need not be cash – they can also include volunteer hours and services in kind.
In 2010-11, Council funded 29 new neighbourhood-based improvement projects worth more than $116,000.
Residents and community groups are encouraged to get involved in the Matching Grants Program, which is now taking applications year round.
If you have a project idea and a group of enthusiastic participants willing to donate their funds, time or materials, contact the City’s Matching Grants team member, Ashley Heath: phone 02 9265 9171 or visit cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/grants
For more details see www.cityofsydney.com.au
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