Denmark Rowers have put the wheels in motion for a new storage shed on the banks of the Denmark River, with the council giving the club the green light to apply for building approval.

The Shire of Denmark, who own the land the Denmark Riverside Club and Denmark Rowers operate on, put a report before councillors at their June meeting on Tuesday, recommending the council approve the club’s plan for a rowing shed close to the river.

The development will also be assessed by the shire through its regular building approvals channels, but required the council’s approval as the landowners.

The club is applying to build a 16m by 4m shed to store and maintain its rowing boats and equipment, complete with landscaping, gravel access, retaining works, and power and water connections, estimated to cost about $60,000.

The club will foot the bill, proposing to fund the project through grants, sponsorship, donations, fundraising drives and club contributions.

The rowing club has two St Ayles skiffs, two boat trailers and a launching trolley, and with its current facilities only one boat and one launching trolley can be stored onsite.

Its additional equipment is being stored temporarily at a club member’s property, but a purpose-built storage shed will allow everything to be kept at the club.

Denmark Riverside Club’s facilities are shared by the Denmark Bowling Club, the Denmark Dragon Boat Club and Denmark Rowers.

Denmark Rowers has about 50 members and row from the club between two and six times per week.

Cr Kingsley Gibson amended the motion before the council to stipulate that the rowing club plants screening vegetation between the river and the shed, to prevent the building from interrupting the view across the river from Berridge Park.

Cr Janine Lewis seconded the amendment, agreeing that while the shed would be beneficial for the club, with all the work the shire was putting in to upgrade Berridge Park and make it a top public location for the community to enjoy, adding some screening vegetation would stop the shed becoming an eyesore on the pristine river bank that is enjoyed by many members of the community for a range of purposes.

Cr Jay Hockey moved to approve the amended plan, saying the development was a “great initiative” that would make equipment more accessible for club members, putting an end to the commuting currently needed to use both of their skiffs at once.

Cr Dominic Youel seconded the motion, and councillors voted unanimously to approve it.