LOGAN Village Men Shed's 52 members have been forced to search for a new home just eight months after moving into their shed at Big River Country Park.
The organisation was left in limbo on May 31 after Logan City Council informed members that their shed did not meet minimum technical requirements.
This is despite the Men's Shed's plans to build five wooden tables with milled wood cut from the council's Cedar Grove wastewater treatment plant site.
The Logan Village Falcons soccer club lease the Big River Country Park facility from the council and subleased the Logan Village Men's Shed building.
A Logan City Council spokesperson said the shed was defined as a non-habitable Class 10a building and could be used only for storage.
"Prior approval was not sought by the (Logan Village) Falcons from council prior to Logan Village Men's Shed commencing use of the shed," the spokesperson said.
"In order for council to consider approval for alternate uses of the shed at Big River Country Park, the classification would need to be changed to a class 9b building.
"As no suitable vacant property facility is currently available in the Logan Village area, council is now assisting the Logan Village Men's Shed to explore other opportunities for a home base."
Due to the significant cost burden required to change the building classification, members of the Men's Shed are hoping to secure new land.
Men's Shed president Ian Bell said members feared the organisation would no longer exist if a new home was not found in the next 12 months.
"All they can do is sit outside in the cold, wondering how they are going to complete jobs on order," Mr Bell said.
"It is affecting us all health wise. I have lost five kilograms because of the stress."
The council spokesperson suggested Logan Village members reach out to the Logan City Community Men's Shed at Crestmead.
"Council also encouraged the Logan Village Men's Shed to submit an application to be added to the Register of Interested Organisations to be notified if a council facility becomes available," the spokesperson said.
"As at (June 27), no application to be added to the register had been received by council from the Logan Village Men's Shed."
Mr Bell said the Crestmead facility was not an option as there was not enough capacity to fit the regular 22 members who worked at the shed per session.
Logan MP Linus Power said he had spoken to the interim administrator of Logan City Council Tamara O'Shea and CEO Silvio Trinca in an attempt to resolve the issue.
"I think the council can ensure the current site they are using can continue to be used," he said.
"I'll be looking for all options to help (the Men's Shed)."
The Men's Shed members are still meeting socially at the Big River Country Park shed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays but are not permitted to work on community projects.
