Men's Shed opens after six year wait
Umina Beach Men's Shed has held the official opening of its new premises at 90 Osborne Ave on Friday, November 1.
The opening occurred a year after it was originally scheduled and just on six years after Central Coast Council resolved to proceed with the delay-plagued project.
"The new location is on Council property and was purpose-built to accommodate the broad range of activities by the Shed members," said shed publicity officer Mr Vic Brown.
He said the building was funded with a State grant, two grants from the Bendigo Bank, "plus we received several generous donations from Peninsula businesses and residents".
Federal Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid and State Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch attended the opening, along with directors of local Bendigo Bank branch.
Many supporters and tradesmen involved in the project also attended.
"Following the speeches, Ms Tesch formally lifted the cover off the plaque and formally opened the Shed," said Mr Brown.
Catering was provided by members of the Umina Beach branch of the Country Women's Association.
The official opening was all the more significant due to the history of its development.
Despite the council decision in 2018, the development application for the Shed was not approved by Council until August 2020.
A construction certificate was not issued until November 2021, 15 months later.
The non-profit voluntary community group was faced with losing a grant for the building, because the council did not have a "plan of management" in place.
The Men's Shed was told the council could not offer it a lease for the building until a plan of management was formalised, and that the lease was required as a condition of the grant.
Council staff told the Men's Shed a plan of management could not be prepared until March 2021.
Then, in June 2021, the group was told that the plan and lease could take another year.
In September 2021, council staff said that the plan of management and lease would not be ready before the end of 2022.
It was reported that Ms Tesch intervened to break the 15-month deadlock that had prevented the group from building the new Shed, resulting in the issue of the construction certificate.
The slab for the Shed was laid in May 2022.
Construction was completed and the Men's Shed group applied for an occupancy certificate in June last year.
However, just as the group was planning for an opening ceremony in December last year, the council insisted in changes to the driveway access to the adjacent carpark area.
The group began using the new premises in July, after the occupancy certificate was finally issued in May.
Mr Brown said: "The Shed provides an opportunity for men to meet other likeminded fellows, share experiences, learn new skills, work on their own projects or be involved in community projects.
"We are always happy to show interested Peninsula residents around the Shed and for them to look at the actual facilities and projects underway, for them to determine if joining the Shed would improve their wellbeing."
The Shed is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursday from 7.45am to 12pm.
"A lunchtime barbecue is normally held on the third Monday of each month."
SOURCE:
Media release, 4 Nov 2024
Vic Brown, Umina Beach Men's Shed