The Our Place Green Space initiative seeks to involve tenants in the provision and maintenance of appropriate and healthy housing. Tenants can get involved in a number of different activities including:
- Community gardens
- Participatory budgeting projects
- Community improvement
- Tenants Talk Design project
Community gardens
We support tenants to start gardens and can help with setting them up. We have developed a set of Community Garden Guidelines to help you do this. Learn more about the community gardens at:
Community gardens are a great way for people who live in the same block to get together and share the experience of growing food and other plants. The benefits of community gardening are well documented, and include:
- Providing spaces where people can grow fresh, healthy food and participate in physical activity
- Encouraging people to learn about growing plants , fresh food and composting and recycling
- Providing a place where people can come together to socialise, solve problems and get to know each other
- Improving the common areas in our blocks to be more productive and appealing.
For more information or to start your own community garden contact the Community team on 8324 0836 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Henry St, Leichardt
The Bridge Housing residents in this block have worked hard to use the existing garden beds and are now growing passionfruit, lettuce, herbs, flowers and tomatoes.
The community garden has helped to bring residents together as they have worked to nurture and sustain their plants and communicate and respect each other’s ideas. Some of the benefits of the garden have been learning about how to garden, been able to enjoy and share the produce they grow and watching the flowers bloom.
Myrtle St, Chippendale
This community garden has maximized on the limited space available and the amazing skills and talents of the residents. The end result is very impressive!
With a ‘blank canvas’ courtyard to work with, Bridge Housing resident Darryl worked to transform it in to a space for all residents to enjoy. Using new and recycled materials, he built planter boxes, a seating area with a table and bench seats and installed mirrors and a shade umbrella. The garden has an abundance of vegetables and herbs growing alongside some tropical palms, bromeliads and flowers and has become a great gathering spot for all the residents in the block.
Marlborough St, Surry Hills
The common area gardens at this block have benefited from the green thumbs and hard work of Bridge Housing residents who have spent many years maintaining and growing beautiful plants in the established gardens.
When the residents decided that they wanted to build a community garden for vegetables and herbs, they worked closely with Bridge Housing and Phil Pettitt from the Community Greening Program at the Royal Botanic Gardens to revive a neglected side of the building. The end result is two large garden beds that will continue providing herbs and vegetables for many years to come!
Participatory budgeting
Participatory budgeting involves tenants being actively involved in making decisions about designing and funding improvements to their own housing and environment.
It is part of the Our Place Green Space initiative under Building Bridges.
Community improvement
The initiative of South Coogee residents to redevelop the bin bay area at their property was rewarded with an external grant that recognises the merit of the project and the decision-making process to achieve it.
The $50,000 grant was awarded to Bridge Housing as part of Round One of the NSW Government’s Social Housing Community Improvement Fund.
Hear what tenants think of the new works.
Tenants Talk Design
If you are living in a new building you might receive an invite to participate in Tenants Talk Design about 12 months after you have moved into your new home.
Staff from the Housing Team and the Development Team (who manage our building projects) will come along to your block and talk to you and your neighbours about what aspects of your homes and the common areas work for you.
Your feedback will be used to help us design better buildings in the future. So while it will not benefit you directly it will help other tenants in the future.
Contact our Communities Team on 8324 08360 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.