By Karen Poh
ST ALBANS Senior Citizens Club is bursting at the seams.
Occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations mean the club’s premises is now at capacity and alternative arrangements need to be made to accommodate the growing membership.
An independent risk assessment was recently conducted on behalf of the Brimbank City Council to determine potential risks associated with the use and activities undertaken at the club.
Items included in the review were the current use of the building, the number of users, access and egress to the facility, emergency management arrangements and building capacity.
St Albans Senior Citizens Club treasurer Jack Karic said the club was in a tight spot.
“There’s not much we can do … we’re not closing (memberships) for the moment, but we are accepting a very limited number,” he said.
Most who have approached the club have been put on a waiting list.
The club has 260 full members, but can accommodate 142 people on the premises at a time, according to OHS regulations.
“When you accept people as full members, you cannot roster them … they are entitled to come at whatever time they want,” Mr Karic said. But thankfully members hardly ever turn up all at the same time, he said.
Brimbank City Council acting general manager for human services John MacDonagh said the council had a duty of care towards club users.
“The council as the owner of this facility has a duty to ensure the senior citizens and other users of the facility are provided with a safe environment in which to conduct activities,” he said.
“Negotiations are being con-ducted with the club representatives about possible options.”
These include part-time memberships which will allow members to use the club on selected days.
“We’re just trying to get some sort of agreement with the council … and we’re working on that.
“We have room for a Monday and Friday for example,” Mr Karic said.
“We have to try and make some sort of extension (to the building) or something. Everybody knows that these days average life is 80 years. Before it was only 75 … and there’s more older people who are retiring.
“Seniors in the area need much more help from the councils, even from the State Government.
“And not just in Brimbank, Melton and Footscray also have similar problems,” Mr Karic said.
