A beloved Mount Evelyn community garden and fitness centre will be given much-needed makeovers with a $15,000 grant from Yarra Valley Water.
Yarra Hills Secondary College’s Purple Patch community garden will get a new rainwater tank, water pump and irrigation systems, while its Yarra Hills Community Fitness Centre is having new water taps installed.
Both facilities play an important role in the local community.
The Purple Patch Community Garden, named after the health benefits of purple superfoods, was created to make use of undeveloped land in the school. It aims to promote inclusion and connectedness with its 24/7 access to fresh produce for all residents of Mount Evelyn and surrounds.
The initial project was undertaken by a handful of students and adults with disabilities who spent several months raising garden beds, redefining the landscape and building a wheelchair-accessible path.
Campus Principal Leighton O’Donnell said the Yarra Valley Water grant meant the school can give the Purple Patch Community Garden the makeover it needs.
“We’ve done a mass clear out, fixing up the fence and garden beds, and have a new water catchment structure on its way to being built,” Mr O’Donnell said.
The installation of a new water tank, water pump, and underground irrigation system will enable the garden to reach its full production potential.
The fitness centre will also benefit and is used by multiple local sporting groups, including basketball, athletics and soccer clubs, as well as the school.
The school’s connection to external sporting organisations is being strengthened with the installation of the new water taps.
“Revitalising our shared community spaces has been incredibly rewarding, allowing us to focus on water conservation while fostering social connection and engagement with both students and the broader community,” Mr O’Donnell said.
Yarra Valley Water’s General Manager of Strategy and Community, Tiffany White, said Yarra Valley Water was proud to help improve important community facilities.
“We’re delighted to be able to help improve community spaces with access to water and the tools for long-lasting and sustainable growth,” Ms White said.
“The Purple Patch Community Garden shows the power of people collaborating to spread benefits right through their community – from the social benefits of bringing people together on a shared project, to the practical benefit of putting fresh produce on local tables,” she said.
Yarra Hills Secondary College is among 14 recipients of Yarra Valley Water’s 2024 Community Grants program, which supports projects aimed at water conservation, habitat improvement, and community education.
For more information about Yarra Valley Water’s Community Grant program, please visit yvw.com.au/community-grants
