17th September, 2024.
There is an amazing group of men involved in the Warradale Men's Shed. This group has a rich history. It operates from the old Thirlmere Rural Fire Service shed, that a previous State Government made council remove from the land near the NSW Rail Museum in Thirlmere. The shed was picked up, sent to Warragamba, set up and there the group have been meeting for years. Until recently, it was agreed that the shed could be used on the land owned by the Warragamba Workers and Sporting Club. The club now needs to sell the land for financial reasons. For some years, councillors and council staff have been working with the group to look at opportunities to build a new shed. In 2023, when I was elected, there was a sigh of relief when a community grant application for money for the shed was successful. Everyone was overjoyed and the men were told that there may even be a little money left over to add to the shed capacity.
Along the way, the men have asked me to check in on the progress of the shed, as they are concerned that their present site could be sold. They would not only lose their workspace, but also need to find somewhere to transfer all of their machinery and tools to. Every time I have checked in with the council the story has been the same: The project is due to start in September 2024 and be completed in early 2025. That is until a week ago. In a regular meeting with the council CEO, I added the men's shed as an agenda item, only to be shocked when told there are now some requirements that may double the price and mean that it takes much longer. On Friday 13 September the message was that a development application would be required and, because of the shed requirements, the moneys allocated would only deliver a shell, with no occupation certificate. Further grants will be required to get the men into their new, long‑promised shed.
I have many questions for the council. Why did it take so long to figure this out, given that it was council that submitted the application for the grant? Why did it take me asking council about the shed's progress for these issues to be raised? Why, as soon as the issues were known, was I not informed, given my known interest in the matter? If council staff knew there was a shortfall, why were councillors not given the option to make up the funds in the last budget? This mismanagement has led to delays. There is no winner when bureaucrats sit on information. Sometimes the loss felt can be personal and heartbreaking. On the same Friday, the men attended the funeral of their group's president, Michael Davis, who would have been mortified to know that the shed project was not on track. Will more of these elderly men pass away before they see it come to fruition?
I implore the council to pay more attention when it applies for grants, not to build false expectations and at the very least deliver what it can now before the price increases. I have seen many council projects blow out in cost. The councillors need to be brave and call this out. If the same building can be built by the private sector, at the same specs for less cost, it shows there is a problem with the calculations or the process. The staff need to be open with me as the State member and the councillors, so we can either advocate for further funding or change the scope of the project. It is not about seeking wins and who is first to share them on Facebook. It is about delivering for the community who are in need. I look forward to the completion of the project, within the guidelines, funding and scope that the community expects. I know Michael will be looking down on all of this and I hope, for the rest of the men's sakes, that their shed is not delayed any further.