Donated gravel from three broken up anthills provided render for the dome of a pizza oven, a welcome addition beside the garden, radiating warmth as winter comes.

Recycled bricks for the oven base came from under the Dunn Lewis Centre building.

Different groups up to a total of 17 people volunteer at the centre each week as part of their Newstart program.

In six months they have constructed a large community garden of summer vegetables and coming into winter will soon replant and include some ornamentals to attract birdlife and for pollination, bees.

Plants for the community garden are donated and their first season for tomatoes, basil, egg plant, potatoes, other vegetables and herbs is just tapering, to be supplanted by broccoli, kale, mescalin, other salad greens and edible flowering nasturtiums as the next crop.

A decorative wooden wall incorporating herb planter boxes is all made from recycled timber.

The crew also does the regular maintenance on the ornamental garden at the front of the building.

Viktor Kovic supervises one group of 10 who work four days a week between 9am and 3.30pm.

“They’re always here early and are enthusiastic,” he said.

Three have found jobs after being part of the program.