By Tanya Steele
In a unanimous decision, Knox Council have approved a five-year community lease for Outer East Food Share (OEFS) in Wantirna.
The decision at the meeting on 28 April has given the volunteers at OEFS a secure base from which to operate and expand.
As demand for food relief shows no signs of slowing in the Knox area, OEFS Secretary Marilyn Lambert said the volunteers are feeling very excited and very relieved upon hearing the motion was passed.
“We were a bit anxious about what would happen if we didn’t get a lease extension,” she said.
“Now we can relax, the stress is gone, and we can plan for the future here.”
Practical ideas are on the horizon for the food relief group, with plans to upgrade the site with additions like solar panels and a walk-in cooler, with council permissions.
“We’re also looking at how we can better source green vegetables, that’s an item that we don’t get an awful lot of,” said Ms Lambert.
At the meeting, councillors came together to discuss the report findings on the OEFS 12-month trial at their site in Wantirna, which was expanded to two years.
“OEFS is contributing a great deal to our community as cost-of-living pressures have increased,” said Councillor Paige Kennett.
“The increase in demand for food relief has increased from just lower socio-economic residents to now full-time workers,” she said.
Knox itself is listed in the top 10 Victorian LGAS where homelessness services were in the most demand by employed people in 2022-23, and Foodbank Victoria has designated Knox as one of two red zones in Melbourne’s outer east, which points to the crucial need for food relief in the area.
“It is hundreds of families in Knox that are skipping meals, children going to school hungry, and our elderly choosing between heating and eating,” said Cr Kennet.
The Foodbank Hunger Report for 2024 by Foodbank Victoria confirmed that food insecurity in Australia has reached a critical point at the end of last year.
Almost half of low-income households faced food insecurity in 2024, and those experiencing it for the first time that year were more likely to be young, aged 18-24, full-time students, people earning higher incomes (over $95,000) and those impacted by natural disasters.
After beginning its trial in December 2023, OEFS had rapid growth across the board, gaining volunteers and delivering tonnes of food each month and supporting food relief organisations across Knox and the Yarra Ranges.
“Food security is not just about charity. It’s about dignity. It’s about health, opportunity and social equity, it’s a basic necessity. I’m very happy to support this recommendation,” Cr Kennet said.
The Templestowe site, from which the food distribution hub operates, was previously used as a kinder and at the meeting, Cr Susan Pierce endorsed the motion and said she couldn’t see that the OEFS facility would be used for that purpose again.
“It’s important that all our facilities meet residents’ needs and are utilised,” she said.
Cr Chris Duncan said it was very clear from their report that the hub has had a positive and significant impact on the food relief situation in Knox.
“I think it’s fantastic that my predecessor, Councillor Marcia Timmers-Leach, was able to offer this pilot within the Collier Ward,” he said.
The motion was passed unanimously, and the volunteers can now plan for longer-term projects.
Ms Lambert said the group is thrilled and is looking to engage more with the local community now that they are more secure and also have their eyes on assisting more with the Yarra Ranges community as well.
“We’re looking at the mini hub in Yarra Ranges to better service them,” said Ms Lambert.
