A 1.5 hectare site on Gateway Island will soon be home to a thriving market garden, thanks to the persistence of the Bhutanese community and the generous support of the Albury Rotary Club.

In the past five years, over 600 Bhutanese refugees have settled in the Albury Wodonga region. Representatives of the Bhutanese community approached Parklands Albury Wodonga for an area of land on which to create a community market garden. Parklands have since facilitated the process of securing the permits and licenses needed and setting up a framework to make that vision a reality.

The immediate focus of the gardens is on supporting this newly arrived community. Located close to public transport, bicycle paths and importantly, the fortnightly Hume Murray Farmers Market, the gardens offer a means for community members to create their own employment.  The informal environment also creates opportunities to connect with the wider community, improve their English language skills and make friends.

Local community members are equally welcome to participate in the gardens.

Parklands is encouraging the wider community to roll up their sleeves, get involved and connect with non-english speaking community members.  Project partners are needed to contribute tools, equipment, materials and technical expertise, providing the seeds for the newly arrived migrants and refugees to help themselves. Help is particularly needed at this stage to set up the irrigation system.

Parklands thanks the Albury Rotary Club for their generosity in donating $5000 towards this project.