A recommendation to establish the community garden at the rear of the Community Hub between the Oberon Library and the Robert Hooper Community Centre was carried at last week’s Oberon Council ordinary meeting.

Finance and community services director Lynette Safranek's report to council said the garden would give community members the chance to grow vegetables and other plants in the company of others.

Her report mentions having several raised garden beds around the perimeter of the fenced community garden area and some freestanding beds in larger vacant areas.

“Beds would need to have access around them so more than one person could work at the garden together,” Ms Safranek’s report said.

“Beds would also need to be at varying heights to accommodate wheelchair access. Vegetables, herbs and flowers could be grown organically by community members by producing compost from food waste collected from cafes and restaurants in Oberon.

“A flat wall water tank and a small garden shed fitted to existing walls would be required.

“Raised flower beds inside the triangle area on the corner of Tally’s Lane and Fleming Street would beautify the corner.”

Ms Safranek’s report said creating and maintaining the community garden would be paid for via grant opportunities “such as from the Veolia Mulwaree Trust”, through Oberon Council’s in-kind support, and in-kind support from Oberon businesses.

”Community gardening is a healthy, inexpensive activity for youth that can bring them closer to nature, and allow them to interact with each other in a socially meaningful and physically productive way,” Ms Safranek's report said.

“Studies have shown that community gardeners and their children eat healthier diets than non-gardening families.”