Grassed: Group spokesman Ken Alexander, left, and facilitator Maria Menheere with other frustrated Men’s Shed members.
KIM WATERS
An endangered grass is keeping St Leonards men out of their shed and stuck in a kitchen, according to a community program coordinator.
Springdale Community House coordinator Anne Brackley said Geelong’s council had identified the grass on a site earmarked for a Men’s Shed in McCarthy Reserve
The 12 men had asked City of Greater Geelong to find them a site four years ago after securing a $50,000 State Government grant for their shed.
Ms Brackley said council’s discovery of the endangered grass had stopped the building plans.
Changes on council had further complicated the process, she said.
“This native grass was found and then we had a change of council boundaries and a change of councillors,” she said.
“It’s been a four-year process so far.”
The St Leonards facility would be part of an Australian Men’s Shed program providing men with places to socialise and use their skills for community and charity projects.
Ms Brackley said the St Leonards men were still operating as a Men’s Shed group but with the town’s recreation reserve kitchen as their gathering place.
The men were undertaking cooking classes instead of “sharing their knowledge and skills” with younger generations, she said.
“They love cooking but they’d really love to share the skills they’ve learned and gathered over a significant number of decades.
“That’s why we started the project and it’s incredibly important for these men to be able to come together and reduce isolation in communities. Some of them are over 80 and they’re very worried and fearful they won’t have time to share their skills.”
Ms Brackley said the group was also upset it had little say in plans for their building.
Ward councillor John Doull presented a concept picture for the shed to a recent council meeting without their input, she said.
“It wasn’t really up for discussion with the men. They aren’t happy with it,” Ms Brackley said.
“There hasn’t been any community consultation about what he presented and we don’t know where the process is going
at the moment.”
Ms Brackley said the men had written to council seeking further support.
“We’ve been given $50,000 from State Government and $100,000 from council but we can’t use any of it until we get a site locked in.
“It’s something we would really love to see progress.”
Cr Doull had not returned the Independent’s call for comment before the paper went to press.
