Location options for Helensburgh Men's Shed
Consultation has concluded
We recognise the important social role Men’s Sheds have in our community. The Helensburgh Men’s Shed started in rental premises in 2016 and has over 30 members. The executive of the Helensburgh Men’s Shed approached Council with a request to help find a permanent home for the group.
Background
In late 2022 Councillors voted to form a Task Force to investigate seven possible sites within the Helensburgh area. The Task Force included two Councillors, two members of the MHS executive and relevant Council officers.
Two sites, Gill Park and Patrick McCarthy Hall (Helensburgh West Reserve) have been identified as possible sites for further investigation.
Council’s role in this process is to provide the community with a way to share their views on the two locations. This engagement is a preliminary step in what would be a long process to finalise the location of the Helensburgh Men’s Shed on either location.
Exploring the options
Option A: Gill Park
Gill Park is a Council owned site (2,244sqm) in Short Street Helensburgh. It is bounded by residential flats on one side and a single dwelling on the other. The site is zoned RE1, which means a community building (Men’s Shed) is permissible with consent.
This location would need to be recategorized to ‘General Community Use’. This is a six -month process which would involve preparing a report to go to a Council meeting, the exhibition of a change to the categorisation and a review of the feedback. Following this, a report would have to be prepared for a future Council meeting where Councillors would consider the recommendations.
Potential benefits:
- Good location close to Town
- Large site
- Park used extensively particularly by those living in Units/Villas
- No Floor Space Ratio (FSR) controls
Potential challenges:
- Large sewer on site may restrict building area and design
- Site falls from street
- It is reported that the park is used extensively particularly by those living in Units/Villas close by
- Once park is relinquished then less open space available to residents
- Height limit controls
- Community possibly accepting a loss of a park and limitations on site due to operating machinery
- No geotechnical or contaminated land assessment undertaken
Option B: Patrick McCarthy Hall (Helensburgh West Reserve)
The Hall is on Crown Land on the corner of High, Junction and Parkes Streets Helensburgh.
There are 2 lots of land at this location. Lot 808 (611.8sqm) is reserved for a public hall and Lot 809 (2,803.4sqm) is reserved for public recreation). Both lots are Crown Land. Lot 809 is licensed to Helensburgh and District Historical Society (HDHS).
This location would require Council to prepare a site-specific Plan of Management. This process takes at least 1-2 years from commencement to permission to be granted, if the Department of Planning & Environment – Crown Lands (DRE-CL) approves it.
Potential benefits:
- Good location on bus route
- Large site
- A structure was previously on this site
Potential challenges:
- Creek on site
- No geotechnical or contaminated land assessment undertaken
- Possible native title claim (on all Crown Land)
Development Applications (DAs) would be required on both sites. There would be a 6-month assessment timeframe and if it were on the Gill Park site it would need to go to the Planning Panel.
Find out more
- Have a look at the maps above of both sites
- Read the Frequently Asked Questions which includes information about the project background and the potential benefits and challenges of each option.
How you can be involved
We welcome your thoughts regarding each site. If you haven't already, please register on this site or log in and then you can participate in one of the following:
- complete the online survey
- collect a paper copy of the survey from Helensburgh Library
- take the quick poll to tell us which option you prefer
- ask Council staff questions at the drop-in information sessions
If none of those work for you, you can also:
- Email us at engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
- Write to us at Locked Bag 8821, Wollongong DC NSW 2500
- Call us on 4227 7111
Drop-in information sessions
Wednesday 9 October at Otford Hall - drop in any time between 5.30pm-7pm
Thursday 17 October at Helensburgh Library - drop in any time between 9.30am - 5pm
Saturday 26 October at the Helensburgh Lions Country Fair, Charles Harper Park - drop in any time between 9am - 3pm.
Next steps
We want to hear all perspectives to find the best path forward. Community feedback, along with the heritage and environmental approvals process, will be used to decide which option we go with. Once a decision has been made, we’ll share the outcome with all who made a submission.
Accessibility and language assistance
If you’re d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech or language difficulty, you can contact us through the National Relay Service. If you need an interpreter, you can contact us through the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. You’ll need to provide our phone number 02 4227 7111 for either service.
Join the conversation
Share your feedback with us by Thursday 31 October 2024. Submissions become public documents and may be viewed by other persons on request. Please read Council’s Privacy Notification before making a submission.