By Taylah Eastwell
Upwey Men’s Shed members are itching to get their hands busy with community projects, as they eagerly await an agreement from Yarra Ranges Council for the build of their new Men’s Shed.
Council’s most recent proposal was that the shed be located at Upwey Operations Depot off Glenfern Road, after what the men describe as a “frustrating two years of searching for a suitable site.”
The decision to offer a shed at the Operations Depot came after Yarra Ranges Council heard submissions from the public on the originally proposed site at 56 Griffiths Road at their meeting on February 25 2020.
Yarra Ranges Councillor Richard Higgins said in May last year that the alternative site was investigated after taking on board submissions made to the Special Committee and looking into what would be required from a planning and zoning perspective at the Griffiths Road site.
“As a result, we re-engaged with the Upwey Men’s Shed group to take another look at some locations that were previously discarded, with the Upwey Depot site on Glenfern Road now being the favourable option,” he said.
“Originally a lack of available space was the reason for previously overlooking the site, but if reconfigured, there could be a way to house the Upwey Men’s Shed within that compound.
Cr Higgins said in May last year that “the next step is to obtain a report on the suitability of the new proposed location, and then we’ll go from there.”
President of Upwey Men’s Shed Gerran Wright said the depot site seemed adequate for their shed to contain a workshop and to conduct social activities and meet with members while being independent and autonomous from council operations.
Upwey Men’s Shed was encouraged with financial support from Dandenong Ranges Community Bank, the Victorian and Federal Government and Yarra Ranges Council. They have also raised funds themselves through memberships, local raffles and sausage sizzles with “generous” support from local businesses in Upwey.
Mr Wright said “Covid-19 put a bit of a dampener to the fundraising and face to face meetings, but did not dampen the members keen focus on getting the shed established. They met frequently with Council via zoom to keep the shed project moving forward.”
One challenge at the proposed depot site is the expense of upgrading the power supply at the site, with the men keen to demonstrate that there are alternative ways to provide power from solar and battery installations.
“We have all the funds in place now and are just waiting on an agreement with Yarra Ranges Council so that we can proceed with the shed project,” Mr Wright said.
While the members cannot currently provide workshop activities, they continue to meet on Monday and Wednesdays at the Upwey Township Hall for coffee and biscuits and to meet other locals who may wish to get involved.
“The service is a lifeline to a number of members whose physical and mental health has suffered particularly due to isolation and loneliness this last year,” Mr Wright said.
“Our goal for 2021 is to reach agreement and build the shed in partnership with Yarra Ranges Council and to raise more cash to assist with the construction and fit out of the new shed.
Yarra Ranges Council was contacted for comment.
