A New Hub for Hope in Perth's Northern Suburbs
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies) is set to construct Western Australia's inaugural Community Food Centre in the suburb of Balga, transforming a long-vacant block into a crucial support hub for residents struggling across the inner northern suburbs. After years of dedicated planning and community consultation, the Department of Housing and Works has partnered with the Catholic charity to lodge a formal lease application with the City of Stirling for the 2561 square metre site on Climping Street.
Comprehensive Services for a Community in Need
If approved by councillors, this pioneering centre will offer a multi-faceted approach to support, including free meals, a community pantry, a productive garden, and various skill-building workshops. The detailed design plans feature a dining room, dedicated workshop and training spaces, a community pantry, a commercial kitchen, accessible toilets, and storage facilities to sustain meal programs and educational activities.
The vision extends beyond the building's walls, with plans for a community garden and a covered alfresco area. This outdoor space is designed to encourage gardening, provide relaxed outdoor seating, and foster broader community engagement. Vinnies intends to operate the centre from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, with the potential for some weekend activities.
Tackling Food Insecurity with an Innovative Model
The drive for this centre is backed by a needs assessment report from Vinnies WA and Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Services, which highlighted that food insecurity and financial hardship are widespread and increasing issues in the Mirrabooka region. The report advocates for a new, innovative strategy to provide meaningful support to local residents.
"Community Food Centres use a multi-layered approach which concurrently targets the individual, community and systemic factors influencing food insecurity," the report stated. This model, which originated in Canada, is designed to empower communities by combining access to nutritious food with opportunities for skill development and social connection.
At an individual level, the centre will provide healthy food through community meals, a low-cost pantry, and the garden. At a community level, it will build on this foundation with peer-led and expert-led workshops where participants can learn to grow vegetables, develop practical cooking skills, and contribute to preparing community meals.
Why Balga Was Chosen for This Vital Project
The location in Balga is strategic. According to socio-economic indexes, Balga ranks among the most disadvantaged suburbs in WA, with only about 8 per cent of suburbs experiencing greater disadvantage. The situation in the neighbouring suburb of Mirrabooka is even more acute, ranking lower with only about 5 per cent of suburbs worse off.
A City of Stirling report, which recommends council approve the lease, acknowledged the critical challenges faced by residents in Balga, Westminster, Mirrabooka, and Nollamara. City officers emphasised "a critical need for a sustainable solution to address food insecurity, financial strain and social isolation", particularly in highly diverse, multicultural areas like Mirrabooka.
Councillors are scheduled to make their final decision on the plan to lease the land at their meeting on Tuesday, November 25. If given the green light, the lease would commence on January 1, with Vinnies taking full responsibility for funding, constructing, and operating the transformative community facility.
