Mandurah council reverses decision to move Falcon playgroup, plans for bigger Men's Sheds

Playgroup members were up in arms over the original decision, saying they weren't consulted and the new location proposed by the City of Mandurah wasn't suitable.

The council in turn revoked a 20-year lease offered to the Falcon Community Menshed to hire the entire Linville Street facility at a peppercorn $1 lease, instead offering a portion.

As a result Falcon Playgroup will continue to hire a part of the facility.

The council revoked its February ruling as part of a draft council report on the future of Mandurah's Men's Sheds.

The report draws on a study commissioned by the City of Mandurah that shows all local Men's Sheds have outgrown current facilities.

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The Men's Sheds have told the City they need just land.

The report to the council said it was "positive" that the groups were prepared to pay for building and operating costs of new facilities and the City's role would only be to provide land.

"[Mandurah's] ageing population is.. likely to place increasing demand on Men's Sheds," the report stated.

"There is a compelling need identified for the Men's Sheds to cater for increased memberships and for this need to be met, the groups need more space."

Aside from revising the leased area for the Falcon group, the council will in the short term also contribute $5,000 for two years to Peel Men's Shed (Park Road, Mandurah) to help with lease costs and $2,000 to Mandurah Men's Shed (John Tonkin College) for two years for portable toilet maintenance costs.

"While each is getting something different, it is considered the recommendations meet a top priority in the unique context of each...group," the report stated.

Long-term plans for bigger facilities are in the making.

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The proposed Dawesville Men's Shed was not involved in planning given their shed is not yet operational and proposed to be on private land with no funds from the City.

Men's Sheds are an international movement that promotes an atmosphere of mateship where men can work on meaningful projects at their own pace in the company of other men.