Copacabana Community
Copacabana Community Mens' Shed Opens
After many years of hard work and fundraising by members of the local community - especially the Mens' Shed Committee, led by Dr Mike Mitchelmore, OAM - the Copa Mens Shed was formally opened on March 18.
There was a crowd of well-wishers on hand to hear speeches from invited guests including Adam Crouch, Member for Terrigal and Dr Gordon Reid, Member for Robertson. The celebrations kicked off with a smoking ceremony led by John Oates and Chris Kokegai, and after the speeches, guests were invited to tour the shed and enjoy a morning tea.
Congratulations to Mike and the Mens' Shed team, and all in the community who saw this important project through to completion.
Copa Men’s Shed Update September 2022
Progress on the construction of the new Copacabana Community Men’s Shed has been agonisingly slow, especially for those of us who have been looking forward to it for the past five years. It took from November last year to February this year to get the slab installed, but then we had to endure severe rainfall, contractor overload and extensive supply chain difficulties before the paths could be laid and finally the shed erected. The photo shows progress at time of writing.
Hopefully, the building will have been completed by the time you are reading this. Then will come the task of fitting out the interior - building partition walls; installing the plumbing and electricity and begging or buying an adequate supply of tools, machines, benches, materials and so on. That might also take a while!
In the finished shed workshop, you will see men making things for themselves and for the community, repairing furniture brought in by residents and working together to develop the shed. You will also see many men just socialising, and not only at morning tea. In this way, particularly for men who may feel isolated and aimless, they will be able to gain a purpose and a wider circle of friends. It is because men’s sheds provide this essential service that the movement has grown so much over the past twenty five years, supported by governments at all levels.
However, our shed will also serve the community more broadly. It will be equipped with a well-appointed social area that will be available to any not-for-profit small group in search of a congenial meeting place to exchange ideas, engage in art or crafts, listen to expert speakers, or anything else that will not damage the premises or disturb the neighbours. This room will also serve as a tea room/relaxation space when the men’s shed is in operation.
For further details and to find out how you can contribute to this community project, please visit copamensshed.org.au or phone me on 0435 609 606.
Men’s Shed construction finally underway March 2022
After nearly five years of planning, construction of the new Copacabana Community Men’s Shed finally got underway on 1 November. Since then, the site has been cleared and levelled, water has been brought in under the car park and electricity through the fire station. 16 concrete piers have been bored, retaining walls have been built back and front, and the foundation slab has been poured.
Construction is taking place under the watchful eye of several volunteer shed members: project manager Vantonian Tutaki and members of the Management Committee. It is being financed by two NSW State Government grants; a major sponsorship from Belle Property and a host of smaller donations, sponsorships and discounts and we thank all who contributed on behalf of the community.
The shed is due to be erected in mid-April and will hopefully be fitted out and ready to open by July. Shed members will also contribute to both the interior and exterior fit-out.
For more information and latest news, including how to become a member or supporter of the men’s shed, please visit website at copamensshed.org.au
Construction of Copa Men’s Shed Starting Soon September 2021
The long-awaited Men’s Shed moved a great deal closer to reality in June, when we learned that an application for an Infrastructure Grant from the NSW Government’s Office of Responsible Gambling had been successful.
This grant, together with the previous My Community Project grant, all the donations and sponsorship we have received, and the free labour volunteered by Shed members, means that we will now be able to complete the shed as planned. The final hurdle. Signing a Council lease. The necessary negotiations have already commenced and we are optimistic that construction will be able to start this month (Covid willing). Keep an eye on the space behind the Fire Station to see progress.
In another development, monthly Shed Meetings have commenced. At the first meeting, guest speaker Kristen Budd gave us a most inspiring talk on meditation. All of us felt fully relaxed and refreshed after the 10-minute demonstration.
At the next meeting (which has been delayed due to Covid restrictions) the Shed’s Honorary Solicitor, Peter Hill will speak on “Wills, probate, and all that”.
All welcome. Peter was President of Copacabana Community Association in 2010 when the CCA Management Committee made the first request to Council to allow us to build a Men’s Shed.
Please visit our web site at
copamensshed.org.au for revised meeting dates, or to become a member.
Mike Mitchelmore,
Shed Co-Ordinator
Copa Men’s Shed... It’s Getting Closer!
A report from Mike Mitchelmore
After receiving development consent last August and holding the ground-breaking ceremony at the site in September, we were eagerly looking forward to seeing work on the shed start. Unfortunately, there have been several hold-ups.
One problem was the 26 consent conditions (ranging from including fire extinguishers in the plans to commissioning a full-scale acoustic report) that had to be satisfied before construction could start. Council is still dealing with the last 3 conditions, so we are almost there.
But the biggest problem was and remains the matter of funding. Although we have now received a total of $151,180 from the State Government (some of which has gone on those reports I mentioned), Council has refused to allow us to start construction until we have “100% funding”.
Our estimate is that, with all the extra impositions, we will require a further $50-60,000 to build and fit out the shed to the point where we can begin operating as intended. We have accordingly commenced a major fund-raising effort locally. It was Copacabana’s support that won us the My Community Project funding, and we are confident that the community will stand behind us now.
Stone Real Estate & George Brand Real Estate have already both become sponsors, and we are looking forward to other local firms coming
on board.
In addition, we will shortly be launching a GoFundMe campaign targeted at individual donors – look out for this.
To learn more about our plans and progress, please visit copamensshed.org.au and email me at any time with your comments or queries.
Mike Mitchelmore, Coordinator
Copacabana Community Men’s Shed
Copacabana Community Men’s Shed: Development Application for approval Tuesday 1 September 2020
The Development Application to build the new Copacabana Community Men’s Shed behind the RFS station (see artist’s impression left) finally went before the Central Coast Local Planning Panel on August 6.
The assessors’ report was very positive, including statements that the shed ‘will promote high levels of on street activity [but] not disrupt the established main-street development patterns of this traditional strip-shopping village’; ‘maintains the streetscape appearance and informal qualities of the scenic quality on the site and the surrounding natural vegetation’ and ‘is centrally located and will provide a much-needed permanent base for the Copacabana Men’s Shed group who have worked over a number of years to find a permanent location’. In summary, the shed ‘is considered a good planning outcome for the site’.
The shed workshop will be allowed to operate between 8.30am and 3.30pm weekdays, but we don’t expect to go beyond 12.30pm and initially only on one day a week. At that time, children will be at school and the skate park should be empty. The social area may be used until 10.00pm, but only when the workshop is closed and only to approved community groups like a book club. No alcohol may be consumed on the premises, and strict conditions will be put in place to avoid any disturbance to the neighbours.
As usual, there are a number of conditions that must be fulfilled (more reports and plans!), which will add to the cost and the delay. However, we can now anticipate starting construction within the next two or three months.
We still need to raise substantial funds to complete the project, and we shall be actively exploring more sources of grants and sponsorship as well as donations of building materials from local businesses. If you feel able to help in this respect, please contact me on 0435 609 606 or email me at coordinator@copamensshed.org.au. We do have the facility to accept tax deductible donations.
I would be happy to provide more details to anyone who is interested.
Mike Mitchelmore, Shed Coordinator
Copacabana Men’s Shed Update
In September 2019, it was announced that the Copacabana Community Men’s Shed Incorporated had been awarded a My Community Project grant of $130,000 to enable a new shed to be erected. CCMSI received the grant because it was the most popular community project in the Terrigal electorate. The group thanks all who voted for them.
As you will see from the artist’s impression, the building has been designed to look more aesthetically pleasing than a regular shed. The design employs a novel roof structure that follows the slope of the land (behind the RFS station).
Construction of the shed will commence as soon as possible after the Development Application - which was submitted in August 2019 - is approved by Council.
It is hoped that the shed can be erected by July 2020.
Members will be recruited as soon as the shed is built. Their first job will be to help fit out the shed to create a pleasant social area as well as a mezzanine area to store materials. An application will shortly be submitted to Council for a Community Infrastructure Grant to cover this extra work.
For further information, please contact Mike Mitchelmore on 0435 609 606 or coordinator@copamensshed.org.au