By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A BLOCK of land near a popular Casey restaurant could be used by the Narre Warren South Scout Group as they continue to outgrow their current facilities.
At Tuesday’s meeting Casey councillor Louise Berkelmans earmarked a block of land on Narre Warren Cranbourne Road, near Kilgerron Homestead, as a potential alternative site for for the Scout group.
After considering the Scout group’s joint letter, council resolved to hold a meeting between its staff and Scout representatives to discuss building a hall on the new land.
The Narre Warren South Scouts have been based at the Oakgrove Community Centre since the group’s inception in 2007, but now with 85 members, as well as 17 leaders, the group needs to use a facility more than twice a week.
Narre Warren South Scout Group Leader Colin McNamara said the team hadn’t been able to enlist new members in close to a year.
“Our current facilities aren’t big enough, we need three or four nights a week,” he said.
“We’ve been dormant in numbers for almost 12 months.
“There are a number of people who want to join and we just can’t accommodate them, we have had to send several to other groups in Casey.”
Mr McNamara said a new hall, which could open on more nights, would potentially see the Narre Warren South Scout Group almost double its numbers in time.
“That’s (the Kilgerron site) one of a number we’re going to look at, but it’s up to council to offer us a site,” he said.
“We’ve suggested that site, yet we’ve got to find out whether it’s suitable, and we appreciate the help from councillors Berkelmans, Aziz and Rosario.
“Obviously it’s a main road, so it’s a good attraction for the public, they’ll take notice of it.”
Star News first reported on the Scout group’s growing numbers and its search for a new home last year.
For more information and to support the Narre Warren South Scout Group, contact Colin at groupleader@nwsscoutgroup.com
