Growing Goodness at Dingley: How the Trade Industry Came Together to Fight Food Insecurity
One in seven Australians lives below the poverty line. For many, that means choosing between paying bills and putting food on the table. It's a reality that sits with us at East Plumbing Co., and when the opportunity came via the Reece Foundation to be part of something that could make a real difference, we didn't hesitate.
In 2025, we joined a coalition of trade businesses to help bring FareShare's new urban farm in Dingley to life - a project that will ultimately provide 300,000 kilograms of fresh vegetables each year to Australians doing it tough.
About FareShare
FareShare operates kitchens in Melbourne and Brisbane, producing over 2.5 million nutritious meals annually. Their reach is remarkable - more than 500,000 people receive meals and fresh food supplies every week through a network of 1,100 charity partners. They support the elderly, veterans, working families, and anyone facing hardship.
When KS Environmental offered FareShare the use of their greenfield site in Dingley for an urban farm, the vision was clear: grow fresh vegetables at scale to feed more Australians in need.
Bringing the Farm to Life
What happened next is a testament to what our industry can achieve when we work together.
Isabel, FareShare's Garden Program Manager, collaborated with the Reece Foundation and the Reece Irrigation Design Studio to create an irrigation system that would maximise the farm's growing potential. Aqua Pro Irrigation brought the design to life, preparing the land, removing trees and installing app-controlled irrigation infrastructure.
KS Environmental built a large shed to house machinery and create a comfortable space for volunteers to wash vegetables before they head to the FareShare kitchen.
That's where our team came in.
East Plumbing Co technicians installing drainage and plumbing systems for the Dingley urban farm project.
Our Contribution
The East Plumbing Co crew volunteered our time and expertise to install the essential water infrastructure the farm needed to operate:
Drainage systems to manage water flow across the site
Sanitation systems for food safety compliance in the washing area
Water catchment infrastructure to capture and utilise rainwater
Rainwater tanks to support sustainable irrigation
It's the kind of work we do every day for commercial clients across Melbourne, but this project meant something different. Every pipe we laid, every connection we made, will help grow food for families who need it most.
The Impact
In its first year, the Dingley urban farm will produce 150,000 kilograms of vegetables. Over the next five years, production will gradually increase to 300,000 kilograms annually - fresh, nutritious produce going directly to Australians facing food insecurity.
FareShare team maintaining the Dingley urban farm to support food relief across Melbourne.
A Community Effort
This project brought together more than 20 businesses from across the trade industry: KS Environmental, Reece, The Reece Foundation, Heidelberg Materials, Brown Brothers, Bushmans, Alex Fraser, ABC Sheds, Titan Trading, DAEMCO, Pipe Makers, Vinidex, MXD Electrical, Kelm Hire, BD Concreters, Trevor Brimble Landscapes, C&N Concrete, Formstone Concrete, Ambi Homes, Tayfra Concrete, and Petta Concrete Pumping.
We're proud to have been part of this team.
Why We Do This
At East Plumbing Co, we believe in building relationships and giving back to the community that supports us. The Dingley urban farm is a reminder that our skills have value beyond commercial projects - they can help create something meaningful for people who need it most.
To everyone involved in making this farm a reality: thank you. And to FareShare, thank you for the incredible work you do feeding Australians every single day.
East Plumbing Co is a Melbourne-based commercial and industrial plumbing specialist. We're proud to support community initiatives that make a difference. To learn more about FareShare visitfareshare.net.au. If you’re in the trade and would like to get involved in community projects, reach out to the Reece Foundation, contact@reecegroupfoundation.org.