Moorabbin Airport Corporation (MAC) has donated 3000 square metres of land to grow vegetables for charity organisation FareShare.
With the capacity to grow up to 12 tonnes of vegetables, the plot will become one of Melbourne's largest charity vegetable gardens.
MAC and FareShare will manage the site, with airport’s owners, Goodman, and a host of corporate donors that are offering their time, resources and funds will build the garden.
The vegetables will contribute to the 25,000 meals FareShare cooks weekly from its Abbotsford kitchen. Every year FareShare distributes more than one million free meals to charities across the state.
MAC Chief Executive Paul Ferguson said the idea came from discussion with the Goodman Foundation and FareShare.
“FareShare needed more land in metropolitan Melbourne," Ferguson said. "As a metropolitan airport, with a shareholder who knows how to unlock value in land, Goodman quickly recognised the kitchen garden as an important cause and a good opportunity to make a real difference for many Victorians."
MAC has gifted the land to FareShare for 33 years until 2048. The gift is equivalent to a $100,000 annual donation.