Sherwin Park Community Garden

In early 2020, while consulting on the Belmore Park Master Plan, Council received a proposal from a group of residents to build a community garden in Belmore Park. The site was found to pose some difficulties because of the large established trees on site.

In 2021, an opportunity arose to fund a community garden in the Dundas Ward. To take advantage of the opportunity, the Belmore Park group agreed to move to Sherwin Park and began planning the garden with assistance from Permaculture Sydney West and Council.

The creation of the Sherwin Park Community Garden was also seen as a solution to the loss of the Sorrell Lane Community Garden, which was forced to close when the privately-owned land on which it was located was sold.

As part of its due diligence around the feasibility of a community garden for Sherwin Park, Council commissioned a soil testing consultant to undertake investigations.

The consultant identified the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs a cancer-causing chemical) and lead in the surface soil.

This contamination exceeds recommended levels for growing fruit and vegetables.

In 2022 City of Parramatta engaged specialists to prepare a Remediation Action Plan (RAP) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to manage the site as a community garden.

• Work will include creating a temporary fenced compound in the area that will become the community garden.
• The turf within the compound will be stripped and a geofabric ‘marker’ layer installed on top to prevent digging into the contaminated soil.
• Where fruit trees are planned, soil may be excavated and replaced with certified clean soil to allow for deep root growth. Root barriers may be installed to limit root growth to the areas of clean soil.

Work will include creating a temporary fenced compound in the area that will become the community garden.

The turf within the compound will be stripped and a geofabric ‘marker’ layer installed on top to prevent digging into the contaminated soil.

Where fruit trees are planned, soil may be excavated and replaced with certified clean soil to allow for deep root growth. Root barriers may be installed to limit root growth to the areas of clean soil.

• Vegetables and leafy greens will be grown in raised garden beds filled with certified clean soil to a minimum depth of 50cm. Contained garden beds separate from the underlying geofabric marker layer and contaminated soil, will prevent edible plants from becoming contaminated via contact with the soil or their root systems.
• The ground between raised beds will be ‘capped’ with compacted gravel to form paths.
• Service areas of the garden will be paved with concrete.

Draft concept designs for the community garden including a shed have been developed and City of Parramatta will work with the community and Sherwin Park Community Garden committee members to create a safe and attractive layout for the new garden.

Following review of the community's feedback and endorsement of the final design, construction of the garden will begin.

The Sherwin Park Committee is a Council endorsed committee. The committee meets regularly and is about to finalise the garden management plan along with other documentation in preparation for the Community Garden's opening.

The first stage of Sherwin Park Community Garden will be constructed this financial year. It is hoped the garden will be open by late 2022.

While the new area for the community garden is being planned, there are gardening activities happening in raised beds and plenty of opportunities to become involved. To learn more, see the Sherwin Park Community Garden Facebook page or email communitygarden059@gmail.com.

Sherwin Park is located between Gladstone Street and Isabella Street near the corner of Brickfield Street in North Parramatta. The garden plot is on Isabella Street.