Minister Chris Steel offers reprieve, says ACT govt has no plans to remove Kambah's '5 Ways' garden

"The ACT government has never had plans to remove this fantastic community garden," Mr Steel said, in a statement.

"A complaint by a community member was made to Transport Canberra and City Services about the garden.

"TCCS investigated the complaint and no further action was taken as the use of this land was deemed safe."

Mr Steel's office said the garden was never under threat.

But the resident who developed the garden was adamant a city ranger visited the site and told him it would have to be removed at his cost because it was not approved.

"It did happen," the resident said, after hearing what Mr Steel's office had claimed.

The resident who had developed the space, off Bissenberger Crescent, said the city ranger visited him nine or 10 months ago and told him the garden would have to go.

The resident, who did not want to be named, said he had not heard a peep from the ranger or government since and had simply believed the garden was on borrowed time.

The man said he was glad the garden would continue.

"As far as I'm concerned, it's approved now," he said.

The Kambah community was up in arms on Monday after a Facebook post said the garden was under imminent threat from the ACT government.

A spokesman for Mr Steel said the city ranger did not make the complaint.

"The complaint was made by a person in the community. It was not made by the city ranger as a member of the community or in any official capacity," the spokesman said.

Mr Steel suggested that the 5 Ways garden was an example to other communities and was not in any danger.

"We actively encourage residents to care for unleased public land and the well maintained and appreciated 5 Ways garden in Kambah is one of the best examples of this," the Minister said.

"I will be writing to residents in the area to confirm that the garden will remain."

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The Minister also suggested he wanted more initiatives such as the 5 Ways garden.

"The ACT government actively encourages community members to care for local parks and Canberrans who are interested in establishing their own gardens, like 5 Ways, through the Adopt a Park program. The next round Adopt a Park grants program will be open soon which provides funding for community volunteer activities," he said.

"This is one of the many programs we have to support community efforts to boost canopy cover and make better use of public land."

On Monday, Kambah residents voiced their support of the garden, which was established during the pandemic as a COVID-safe space.

Rod Phillips, who lives in elsewhere in Kambah, closer to the Tuggeranong Parkway, said the garden had drawn his family to it.

"For years, as this has evolved, we've walked up here with the kids and the animals," he said.

"We come here and pick herbs. It really is a community garden. What it looked like before was just empty grass and everything that's been done here has been a positive."

Judith Barlow, a resident of Kambah for 37 years, said the garden had brought people together.

"It builds community spirit and pulls us all together, chatting and so on," she said.

"This is lovely to walk past and I do enjoy coming here with my dogs. If someone is looking after it, this is wonderful. We're very lucky."

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