Resources

Soil quality and coal dust concerns NEW


Arsenic :  mainly on RTA area where arsenic was actually STORED, more information here.
Lead:  Lead would have been used in apint, brake lining, but it doesn't mean it has leaked in every soil around a railway. More information here.  DYI testing (from $120 is possible, see here.)
Coal dust: There is a lot of publication, a bit of research on coal dust an human health very closed to mining site. There is much less work on coal dust around train tracks, but in any case, the fact that some other mineral which could be toxic at a certain level of concentration, can be present in coal dust, doesn't mean that it is a risk for everyone around a 'coal rail line'. There is very little science on this particular point. For those worrying that the coal dust has accumulated in the soil, which would be from the soils very close to the railway to the one much further (depending on the wind). Again, the coal accumulated in the soil wouldn't be a problem, but the accumulation of certain toxics, at a certain level of concentration, and which can or can ot pass through the root system and then be accumulated....may have some impacts. 
I didnt find any interesting scientific (with test results, concentration level, relation with the concentration in the vegetable product) research (in my quick first research), but again the soil could be tested.


If we want to compare the result of our soil test to a 'good soil' standards, we can use the Australian Standard for soil. Available here. For a thorough soil testing, we have to ask for a professional soil testing, or TAFE, or a close Ag-Science school/uni.
Community gardens website

The Australian city farms and community network

Funding for community garden in NSW

10 ways Councils can help support community gardens



Other interesting community gardens
Thirroul Community Garden 
North Wollongong Community Garden

List of Illawarra Community Garden Projects  NEW

 




Others

Illawarra Food Fairness  

Wollongong Botanic Garden Community Program