Media release – Health Consumers Tasmania, 22 February 2024
Growing a healthier community in Scottsdale
Dorset community members are celebrating their first deliverable in addressing health and wellbeing initiatives by establishing a community garden for their community.
Over 40 community members have worked tirelessly on this project for over 9 months securing land and building the vegetable boxes for the garden.
“This facility will be available to be used by the general public, schools, the elderly and anyone in the community really,” explains Bec Smith from Health Consumers Tasmania.
“The community told us last year that this was important and a missing piece of the community infrastructure here in Dorset.
“We had over 136 people participate in 22 kitchen table conversations who raised this as an issue. Then in March last year, 44 community members came together and decided this was an important action for us to tackle.
“A local community group of 20 people formed, calling themselves Better Health 4 Dorset and they are working on some really key issues including local transport, mental health, improving access to health care and establishing a health and wellbeing hub.
“We have over 70 locals working across these important actions.
“For the kitchen garden being launched today, its aim is to promote healthy eating, improve access to fresh, affordable produce and improve mental health by providing avenues for locals to connect and work together.
“We acknowledge both the State Government’s commitment through funding this initiative in Scottsdale and for Federal Member for Bass, Bridget Archer, for her support through a local grant program.
“Health Consumers Tasmania stands committed to supporting communities in advocating for their healthcare requirements and urges sustained investment from the government to continue this community-led initiative across the three regions in Tasmania.”
