Artwork by Laura Wills

Share to FacebookShare to XShare to LinkedIn Email this page Share this engagement opportunity with friends and family

Project update April 2026

We are currently undertaking engagement to establish a Community Food Hub in the City of Onkaparinga.

A Community Food Hub is a community centre with a focus on food.

A key focus is about building connections with and between community. A food hub provides a range of wrap-around services including skill building activities and support tailored to local needs including cooking classes for those on a budget, financial counselling and referrals to other supports. The food hub also provides access to low-cost groceries and essentials.

Food insecurity is increasing locally, with many households experiencing rising living costs and difficulty accessing affordable groceries.

Our food security investigations identified the Central South District (Seaford and surrounding areas) as experiencing one of the highest levels of food insecurity, with services limited and unable to meet demand. A recent closure of a service in the Southern District (Aldinga and surrounding areas) indicate a potential need in this district too, with our food security investigations highlighting an increased need in the Southern District too.

These investigations since 2023 along with known local needs regarding the recent closure are guiding the locations we are exploring.

These include Seaford, Aldinga and surrounds, and include Hastings Street Community Hall, Seaford Community Centre and Aldinga Institute Hall.

Community food hub activities closely align with current activities and operations delivered within these facilities; however, some change may be required with current activities at any future selected location.


Community information sessions

This is an opportunity for community members to talk to council staff, find out more about the project, share your thoughts, ask questions and if interested, discover ways you could be involved.

Details of the sessions:

Session 1

📍Location: Aldinga Institute Hall, 23 Old Coach Rd, Aldinga 5173

📅Day: Saturday 2 May 2026

🕒Time: 1pm - 3pm

Session 2

📍Location: Seaford Community Centre, Beechwood Grove Seaford 5169

📅Day: Sunday 3 May 2026

🕒Time: 1pm - 3pm


Project update March 2026

Successful tender outcome

The Food Centre has been successful in securing state government funding through the Department of Human Services' Social Supermarket Program. The community food hub is proposed to be located at Seaford's Hasting Street Hall in partnership with The Food Centre Gepps Cross, Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, council and the local community.

The project will receive a one-off grant of $196,409 from the Department for Human Services (DHS) Social Supermarket Program 2025–2030 and an in-kind City of Onkaparinga contribution of approximately $35,700 to establish the hub. DHS will also provide an annual operating grant of around $220,000, while the council will provide ongoing in-kind community development support for program and service delivery, and $4,000 in annual maintenance support.

The Food Centre will lease the council hall until June 2030 and run day-to-day food operations. Good Shepherd will lead the wraparound social services (such as onsite financial counselling, access to no-interest loans, and referrals to housing and family supports).

The next stage of the project includes local engagement with residents neighbouring Hastings Street Hall and seeking Development Approval to change the use of the hall.

Project partners will also work closely together in the development of a Community Leadership Group, that will support the service to meet local needs and foster community ownership.

Background

We understand that increases to the cost of living is making it hard for many in our community to make ends meet.

As one way to support our community, with funding from the Department for Human Services we are investigating establishing a community food hub in the Seaford region.

A community food hub offers:

  • low-cost groceries and essentials in a store-like setting
  • opportunities to connect with others in the community
  • skill-building activities and support programs tailored to local needs.

Everyone is welcome - no assessments or eligibility checks are required.

We engaged with the local community on their thoughts on a potential community food hub in the Seaford area between 29 July and 17 August. The outcomes of the engagement can be found in the Community Engagement Feedback Report.