A SCOUTS group says it had planned to “Be Prepared” to move from a hall at Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve but talks with Frankston Council about help to relocate became muddied amid claims from council that the Scouts had turned down offers of help.
A $3.8 million community sporting pavilion in a revamp of Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve was announced amid much fanfare earlier this month without mention of the demolition of a hall used by 1st Carrum Downs Scouts for about the past four decades.
A new pavilion will host play for Skye Football Club, Carrum Downs Junior Football Club and Carrum Downs Auskick.
Carrum Downs Scouts group leader Ryan Unsworth said some parents had made their disquiet about the Scouts’ imminent eviction next month known on Facebook.
“Both parties are now sitting back and looking at it and saying ‘we need to work together now’,” Mr Unsworth told The Times.
“We’re here to stay in Carrum Downs, we’re continuing to grow and we’re looking to a new facility to potentially have 250 or more new members that we can’t sustain in our current location.”
Frankston mayor Cr Brian Cunial put out a council statement late on Friday stating the Scouts group rejected an invitation to share the use of the new pavilion despite knowing a hall at the reserve will be demolished as part of the project to build a multi-purpose sporting pavilion.
“The Scouts group felt this option was unsuitable as they preferred a stand-alone facility which they costed at approximately $800,000,” Cr Cunial said.
“In October 2016, Scouts representatives advised they no longer required council’s help. Since then, council has endeavoured to contact the Scouts in relation to their plans moving forward, however, no formal advice has been received.”
The mayor said Scouts representatives knew they would need to relocate “early in the discussions and had accepted they would need to move”.
“I am aware that following comments made on social media, the 1st Carrum Downs Scouts are now interested in re-engaging in discussions with council and [Carrum Labor MP] Sonya Kilkenny in order to investigate a permanent location in Carrum Downs for their troop moving forward.
“Council appreciates the opportunities that Scouts provides young Australians and we’re pleased that the Scouts are willing to work with us again.”
Cr Cunial said an agreement had been reached to allow the Scouts to stay at the existing hall until the end of this year.
The new pavilion is expected to be built by mid-2018.
Ms Kilkenny took to Facebook last week to promise to work to find the Scouts a new home in Carrum Downs.
“Carrum Downs Scouts, I will make sure council and Scouts work together to get you a new home too,” she said.
The state government is pitching in $1.05 million of taxpayers’ funds towards the Carrum Downs sports complex with council contributing about $2 million of ratepayers’ money over two financial years.
Mr Unsworth said the Scouts do not in any way want to hinder the development of the new multi-sports centre at the reserve and may try to move elsewhere in Carrum Downs before the new eviction deadline the end of the year.
