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Mary MacKillop Community Garden

The Mary MacKillop Community Garden is a community green space on 480 sqm of land located at St Mary MacKillop Catholic Parish, Oran Park. This shared garden space is a place where locals can work collaboratively to grow their own produce, enjoy recreation in the natural environment and build a sense of community.

 Arieal View of Community Garden Site

GOALS

The Key goals of the Mary MacKillop Community Garden are to:

  1. Provide an outdoor garden for the community of Oran Park and surrounds.
  2. Improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the community.
  3. Improve the sense of belonging of paricipants by fostering social networks, collaboration and creativity.
  4. Provide a space that is accessible and welcoming to community members, particularly socially isolated groups such as culturally and linguistically diverse people, those with disabilities and the elderly.

Participation

The garden is a community project and all community members are welcome to enjoy it. If you would like to become a member of the garden, or volunteer to support the garden in some other way, please contact the Community Garden Project Team via the Parish Office at oranpark@dow.org.au.

 Participation

PROJECT TEAM

The Mary MacKillop Community Garden is currently managed by a small project team who are engaging the community for input, planning the initial stage of construction and seeking sponsorship from local businesses and government. This project team is supported by the St Mary MacKillop Catholic Parish, St Benedict's Catholic College, St Justin's Catholic Parish Primary School, the Camden/Oran Park chapter of the St Vincent de Paul Society and the Botanic Gardens of Sydney Community Greening program.

Once the initial stage has been constructed, a Gardening Committee will be formed to oversee the long term management of the garden. If you would like to be involved in this, please contact the project team via the Parish Office.

PLANNED MILESTONES

  1. Stage 1 - 2023
    Construction to commence mid-2023 of initial 160 sqm area. Will deliver a herb garden, small vegetable plots and community recreational space.
  2. Stage 2 - 2024
    Further expansion to 320 sqm. Likely addition of further recreational space and vegetable plots.
  3. Stage 3 - 2025
    Final expansion to a total area of 480 sqm.

SPONSORSHIP

Sponsorship of the community garden is greatly appreciated and will help make this project provide the best opportunity to participants. Sponsorship ideas include a financial contribution, donation of materials or volunteering of time or skills to help create and sustain the garden.

We endeavour to acknowledge the generosity of our sponsors and can provide a number of ways to show our thanks for their support. If you would like to support the project, please contact the project team via the Parish Office.