To the Editor and the KV Community,
We, the undersigned, recently each received a letter from Shoalhaven City Council (Council) seeking feedback on the proposed site for the Kangaroo Valley Men’s Shed. Like most of the community we are fully supportive of a Men’s Shed being established. We understand the mental health and wellbeing benefits of a Men’s Shed to the community. This is not in question.
We, like many though, thought it would follow the majority of Australian Men’s Sheds, including those at Nowra or Berry, and be established at the local oval – the heart of the community. So, we were stunned to learn of proposed plans to construct the KV Men’s Shed at the West Moss Vale Road Reserve (Lot 7 DP 264336) – this is the undeveloped parcel of land next to Stop n Taste that acts as a nature strip/environmental buffer and wildlife corridor – right in the midst of the residential areas near Hampden Bridge, backing onto Jenanter Drive residences and sitting across the road from Cullen Crescent (see Figure 1 below).
Council has not yet committed to this location – being subject to local consultation until 12 May 2024, and full disclosure: we are all affected residents. Suffice to say, we question the appropriateness of the Council’s ‘preferred’ location and the lack of community consultation around this.
Taking it upon ourselves, we and other concerned residents met with the KV Men’s Shed Group who described its plans for a 400m2 (6m high) workshop to be built on that site (if approved).
Let that sink in. That’s the equivalent of a light aircraft hangar or commercial/industrial workshop.
The impacts of any building big enough to be considered useful to the Group are multiple and varied:
- It will change the visual streetscape for residents and visitors crossing over our historic Hampden Bridge;
- Adjoining residents will look out over an imposing workshop instead of natural bushland;
- The noise imposition for local residents will increase; and
- The necessary land-clearing involved will affect a variety of threatened species of flora and fauna that can be found in the reserve (acknowledged by Council themselves) when:
- vehicular and pedestrian access;
- car parking;
- the construction itself; and
- bushfire asset protection is considered.
Simply put, the location is just…wrong.
Affected residents and the KV Men’s Shed Group agreed if the KV Community can rally Council may consider alternatives (and the Group has said it would actually prefer a suitable shed at the KV oval). They just want their shed, we want them to have their shed, and Kangaroo Valley would be well-served by having such a shed…but closer to the supportive heart of the community.
A site at the KV oval would place it alongside other Council-owned/maintained buildings and amenities that bind this community together – the KV Hall, the pool, the showground buildings and of course the oval itself where many community-based activities already take place.
So KV, while we are strongly in favour of a Men’s Shed, will the KV Community be equally strong advocates now to push for such a facility being located at the KV oval/Osborne Park?
Council has invited written feedback by 12 May 2024. After which it will decide whether to release the West Moss Vale Road Reserve for a Men’s Shed to be constructed…or not.
So we call on the Kangaroo Valley Community to write an email to Catherine Waerner (Council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au) or via letter to PO BOX 42, NOWRA, NSW, 2541 lending your support for a Men’s Shed but making it clear it should be at the KV oval and NOT at the currently proposed location of the West Moss Vale Road Reserve.
Glyn Jones
Sally Wallace
Courtenay Russell
Simon Russell
Trish Sherbourne
Michael Morris
Figure 1: Location of Lot 7 DP 264336 (West Moss Vale Road Reserve) within Kangaroo Valley
