THE Federal Government may fill a funding gap for proposed Mosman Park Community Men’s Shed extensions after council contributions created a $23,000 shortfall for the estimated $80,000 project this week.
“We’re going to ask Curtin MHR Julie Bishop to help with the balance,” Men’s Shed president Brett Pollock said.
The shed’s extension would garage a community bus, enlarge the metalwork facilities and provide more storage.
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READ NOWShed members wanted Cottesloe, Claremont and Mosman Park councils to contribute $25,000, Peppermint Grove Council about $10,000, with the remainder to come from the shed, which provides manual work facilities and hobby classes mainly for senior men.
However, only Mosman Park agreed to its expected contribution, and Claremont will decide this month whether to allocate $16,500 in its 2015-16 budget.
Peppermint Grove is waiting on the other councils’ decisions.
This week, Cottesloe councillors decided to consider a $16,000 contribution in their undetermined 2015-16 budget, after staff recommended declining any contribution because it was “questionable” if the proposed upgrade would have direct benefit to Cottesloe residents, about 40 of which comprise the shed’s total membership of about 250 spread between the four councils.
Mr Pollock said while shed members were disappointed with the advice, they thanked the subsequent intervention of Cottesloe Mayor Jo Dawkins who suggested the $16,000 figure.
Mrs Dawkins said the shed assisted with the area’s ageing population, and $16,000 was a reflection of the proportion of shed members from Cottesloe.
An application to the Federal Government’s community projects fund was expected to be made by the shed , but any construction will wait until July when the four councils’ budgets have been determined.