By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
CASEY council will decide this week whether to grant a local Scout group access to more land, as they continue to outgrow their current facility.
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 has been unable to take in new recruits and needs extra space.
At the general council meeting this Tuesday night, a recommendation will be put forward that the Scout group be provided access to council land at Baringas Park – 89-101 Oakgrove Drive, Narre Warren South.
If successful, the land will be used to construct a new facility funded by the Narre Warren South scouts.
“Our current facilities aren’t big enough, we need three or four nights a week,” Narre Warren South Scout Group Leader Colin McNamara told Star News last year.
“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.”
In October, councillors Louise Berkelmans and Sam Aziz tabled a joint letter on behalf of the Scout group which suggested using land next to the Kilgerron restaurant on Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road.
But after discussions between council officers and the Scout group leaders, the Kilgerron site wasn’t deemed appropriate and new suggestions were put forward.
The block of land at Baringa Park will now likely be the new site.
It’s understood Scouts Victoria has provided a written commitment for the construction of the new Scout hall and will potentially seek funding through the Regional Development Australia Auspiced National Stronger Regions Fund.
For more information, contact Colin McNamara at groupleader@nwsscoutgroup.com.
