Construction work is set to start soon on the Mt Duneed Men’s Shed’s new home.
The 30-strong group has been meeting in temporary sites over the past few years, but works to prepare its new permanent site, at Sovereign Drive Sporting Reserve, started last week.
Construction work is expected to start soon, with the project to be completed by February.
Mt Duneed Men’s Shed president Merv Poyner said he was rapt to see the build start but it would still be several months before the group was in the new shed.
“It will be good that we’ll be able to get back to what we love doing, which is making things for the community, such as for schools and other community groups,” Mr Poyner said.
“We’ve really appreciated what we’ve been able to do [at temporary site Foundation 61] but this will be the big step for us.
“Once we get into the new shed I think we’ll double in size very quickly.”
The Mt Duneed Men’s Shed is one of 14 groups in the region that provides members with a welcoming space to meet others with similar interests and learn new skills.
Members develop their skills in metalwork, woodwork and restoration, often while working on projects that give back to the community.
Mt Duneed Men’s Shed projects have included making bench seats for local schools, rocking horses, wooden Christmas trees and, more recently, helping build the garden beds and propagation table for a new community garden in Warralily Estate.
The new shed received a $595,000 budget allocation from the City of Greater Geelong, as well as an $80,000 grant from the state government.
Deputy mayor Trent Sullivan said the group, and all men’s sheds, were incredibly valuable to the community.
“We know the Mt Duneed Men’s Shed has been eagerly awaiting this new facility and what will soon become their new home,” he said.
“Men’s sheds do an incredible job at giving back to the community and chances are if you’ve seen a handmade bench seat, fence or bird boxes in a local school or community space it may have been thanks to one of the many groups operating in Greater Geelong.”
The shed will also include a multipurpose creative space that will open the facility up for broader community use, with the design including scope for the inclusion of a community garden in the future.
Feedback was invited on the proposal and concept plan in last November, with survey responders suggesting a name change from the Armstrong Creek Community Shed to Mt Duneed Community Shed due to the facility’s location.
