The earth-movers rolled in to start razing the gardens on Wednesday,ripping up rows of overgrown vegetables and plants,and leaving the community who put them there “heartbroken” and vowing to fight until they reclaimed their allotments.
Ms Cooper was growing everything from capsicums to raspberries,to broccoli,leeks,and spring onions,before she and the other gardeners were locked out ahead of its razing.
“It’s like watching your loved one being slaughtered before your eyes,” she said. “It means so much to me.
“[Others] just say we are the privileged people who keep everything for themselves. I only take what I need ... I would share with everyone I meet.”
Last June,farm management announced the land needed to be cleared and the gardens rebuilt from scratch after a consultant’s report found there were unacceptable safety risks,including snakes and exposed star pickets.
They have since been gifted $860,000 to get the job done. Plotters claim they could fix it themselves,and for much less money.