By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
A FULLY-fledged Men’s Shed in Hampton Park has come a step closer to reality after Casey Council accepted the donation of a to-be-relocated 94-year-old school building.
The Men’s Shed is set to be housed in Hampton Park Primary School’s original circa-1922 building which will move into Marjorie Eastick Reserve.
At the 21 June council meeting, councillor Wayne Smith said “the school has no choice but to demolish it” as part of its $5.7 million upgrade if the council didn’t accept the re-gifted building.
‘We’ve got an opportunity to keep … one of the oldest buildings in Casey.”
The Department of Education and Training had promised to fund the cost of relocating the building, but the gift still comes with costs of up to $250,000 to the council.
Some of the upfront costs included disability upgrades and increased car parking in the reserve.
Cr Smith said State and Federal grants may be available.
If necessary, he and fellow River Gum Ward councillor Damien Rosario were prepared to fund it entirely out of their ward funds, Cr Smith said.
Cr Smith said it gave a badly-needed home for the Men’s Shed group, currently in an impractical and “embarrassing” space in a community centre.
A council officers report however raised a host of concerns such as the school building being too small for the group’s projected growth.
It was also against council policy to dedicate community facilities to just one organisation, it stated
The report found the building’s relocation had significant upfront cost, reduced the reserve’s public open space and set a “poor precedent” for Casey’s other heritage buildings.
The council ought to advocate for the State Government to retain the state asset, the report stated.
A relieved spokesman for Save the Hampton Park School group Tony O’Hara said the council report hadn’t filled him with confidence, especially with financial restraints due to rate-capping.
He said he was sure the project would get funding support from State and Federal governments.
“All the comments we’ve had on the Facebook page shows the community support, which has helped us immensely.
“The comments have been seen by all the right people.”
The council will seek a meeting with Eastern Metropolitan Region MP Judith Couacaud Graley, Federal Holt MP Anthony Byrne and the Hampton Park Men’s Shed on the building’s future.
