Food fight at council meeting could prove fertile ground for community gardens

If you’d like to see more locally grown food on your plate, you could be in luck.

A push to support food systems in the Wollongong area will see a review of how Wollongong City Council can better support local growers.

Councillor Jess Whittaker put her first notice of motion before the council on Monday 25 November, requesting a briefing on the issue, including any outcomes delivered in response to the Illawarra Regional Food Strategy (2013-2019) or related documents.

The briefing would cover community gardens on public land, workshops on how to grow food, support for crop swaps, garden tours and farmers markets; and any grants that council has offered to groups for local food related projects, or involvement in related community events.

The motion also asked for staff insights into barriers that could deter local food initiatives from progressing.

“In this cost of living crisis people are finding it difficult to access fresh, affordable food,” Cr Whittaker said.

“Food charities say getting fresh produce is a struggle, but there is a great deal of energy and enthusiasm for local food production.

“It seems reasonable to meet a local need with local energy.

“We can’t be reliant on a price-gouging supermarket duopoly.”

Cr Whittaker said community gardens in particular could be a powerful way for people to grow their own food, stay active, and build connections to others.

The motion about supporting local food systems drew ire from Councillor Dan Hayes.

Cr Hayes, who has previously served two terms on Wagga City Council, said the request “could have been an email”.

“This motion isn’t for educating the community and seeking answers on their behalf, it’s asking a question in public and getting answers in private,” he said.

“It doesn’t require a vote from council. I would suggest this is a media release disguised as a notice of motion.

“It’s a huge ask on staff for no particular purpose. I don’t have the inclination to amend this significantly to try to make it meaningful.”

Councillor Whittaker, however, said she felt sending a private email request for information lacked transparency.

Councillor David Brown poured oil on troubled waters.

He suggested the motion be amended, that councillors receive a briefing or an information note on action against the regional food strategy, and the council reaffirm support for community gardens and a current policy review.

“This amendment is not too dissimilar to the original motion,” he said.

“Let’s get the information. In the past we’ve voted up a policy and it appears not to be working.

“The food strategy is an aspirational document and it doesn’t appear to have had any action for the past five years, so I support finding out what’s going on and what has been delivered under it.

“If it has foundered it’s best we know about it, and that information might help us focus our thoughts more in this space.

“We don’t have buckets of money to throw at projects but perhaps we can provide inspiration to community groups and support here and there.”

The motion was carried.