Men's Shed saga continues with amendment lodged
Central Coast Council is still appears to be placing obstacles in front of the Umina Beach Men's Shed five years after it resolved to lease council land to the non-profit group for its shed, and purported to support its activities.
The Shed had been hoping to hold an opening ceremony in December, but it now appears to be unlikely to be able to do so until the New Year.
The Men's Shed has now lodged a proposed amendment to its development approval, following a letter from the council "for additional information to meet the requirements of a Section 4.55[1A]".
The amendment seeks to retain the current original alignment of the carpark driveway.
The Council letter was dated October 17, within two days of the fifth anniversary of the first meeting with the Central Coast Council senior management team and councillors on October 19, 2018, according to the latest Men's Shed newsletter.
"It is still on-going," the newsletter states.
"Your current Shed is basically all packed up and pretty ready to relocate to the new Shed in Osborne Ave, but delayed awaiting the finalization of the Occupancy Certificate.
"We are in very regular contact with the authorities but the formalities make for slow progress."
In the amendment application lodged with the council, Shed secretary Mr Vic Brown said: "We think it is important to provide additional background information.
"The initial discussions with Council started back in 2017-2018 regarding the possibility of providing a suitable site or facility for the Umina Beach Men's Shed.
"The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council 26 November 2018 show Item 2.2 Proposed Lease of land at 90 Osborne Av Umina to Umina Beach Men's Shed. Moved Mayor Smith, seconded Councillor Holstein.
"At the outset the original concept was for the complete area of Lot 13 [90 Osborne Av] to be provided to the Men's Shed.
"Presumably following the due process of.submissions following the advertising of the proposal, and the Shed having started work on plans and layouts, we were advised that the Shed would be leased only a portion of Lot 13 and the remainder to be retained by the
Council as a 24/7 public car park.
"At this initial stage [of utilising the whole area] it was thought that the cross over entrance to Lot 13 from Osborne Ave might have to be moved in order to accommodate the Shed structure and parking.
"However, at the point when the Shed was advised of the 24/7 car park and the actual area that was to be leased to the Shed, the existing crossover /entrance to the car park would naturally be retained.
"The Development Application No 57593/2019 Part 1 was issued August 6, 2020.
"However it included a new crossover structure/plan inside the area of the existing structure. "The existing structure designed by the Council to cater for its larger 24/7 car park and later for the 24/7 public car park facility is broader, more accessible and seemingly therefore 'driver safer' than the proposed replacement.
"The existing entrance /crossover to the designated 24/7 car park is in actually the same location as on development plan, is wider, designed and constructed by the Council, and is operational.
"To remove this structure to simply supply and construct a narrower version is thought to be impracticable.
"The changes proposed are to retain the existing entrance/crossover structure designed and built by the Council to continue to provide access to the Council's 24/7 public car park in doing so there would be nil changes to environmental effects."
The application is open for submissions until November 24.
SOURCE:
DA Tracker, 6 Nov 2023
DA/57593/2019/A, Central Coast Council