Southbank Residents Group

Melbourne Men’s Shed

Great news on the Melbourne Men’s Shed.

The recently-elected committee adopted a rules and governance model and has been successful in attracting its first paid members. With both of these critical steps accomplished, the Melbourne Men’s Shed is currently going through the process of incorporating itself with Consumer Affairs Victoria.

In regard to a possible site, the former mobility centre at Federation Square has been identified as the primary multi-purpose facility of choice. Its central location within the City of Melbourne will assist in attracting additional members from surrounding suburbs and will hopefully act as an incubator for further sheds across the municipality.

Modification works will be required at the proposed site, but the concept of a men’s shed has received in-principle support from Federation Square, which is a great first step. Immediate set up requirements such as dust extraction, parking concessions, adjustable benches for disabled, blind and low vision members (which the shed will also cater for) are currently being assessed. Additionally, there is a key focus on recycling as much of the inner workings of the existing site infrastructure to help minimise initial financial outlay.

Programming and membership strategies are being developed, as are the logistics of space sharing within the facility. There a couple of final milestones that need to be finalised with the City of Melbourne and Federation Square before the site gets the final tick of approval and go-ahead.

We now encourage all men who are interested in being members of the Melbourne Men’s Shed and who also wish to use the facility, to make contact with David Loughton, membership secretary at [email protected] David will be in touch with details on membership, tour of the site and an opening barbecue event.

The launch of the Melbourne Men’s Shed will be a very successful outcome that will assist Melbourne’s application to the World Health Organisation to be recognised as an aged-friendly city.

Planning Matters

As mentioned in the last issue, later this month capital city zone resident group representatives will be meeting with Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy, to discuss key issues and concerns relating to planning within the City of Melbourne.

In the next issue we’ll provide a summary of discussion and agreed actions with the minister. So continue to watch this space for an update.

Finally – and as always - you can become a member of the Southbank Residents Group by visiting www.southbankresidents.com.au

And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter (@3006ResiGroup) and “like” us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SouthbankResidentsGroup) You’ll be kept abreast of upcoming resident group information meetings, and can also find out what’s on in and near Southbank.