COMMUNITY groups the Warwick Men's Shed, Warwick Shire Woodcrafters and Rainbow FM could all be forced to find new homes.

The Daily News understands the Southern Downs Regional Council needs to find hundreds of thousands of dollars due to costs incurred from the Eden Gardens Cemetery each year and has identified four lots of property that could be sold to find the funds.

They are Lot 1 RP 175321, Lot 1 RP 117727, Lot 2 RP 117727 and Lot 1 RP 105768, occupied by the aforementioned organisations on the corner of Tooth and Willi Sts.

The council took control of Eden Gardens during its first term from 2008-2012, and is forced to honour any pre-agreements.

As such, it is understood the council has continually searched for ways to subsidise the costs of the pre-agreements and general maintenance of the cemetery.

Deputy Mayor Ross Bartley said he was unsure when a decision could be made but council minutes from an October 22 meeting last year noted that a resolution moved by Cr Jamie Mackenzie and seconded by Cr Vic Pennisi stated that "a report be prepared on the options and constraints for development of council-owned property in the vicinity of Willi and Tooth Sts, Rosenthal Heights".

"Personally, I believe Henry Joppich Park is one option and the (Warwick) Showgrounds is another," Cr Bartley said.

"In Stanthorpe, the Men's Shed moved to the showgrounds and that arrangement works very well. I think everyone needs to be sympathetic to relocation though.

"The Men's Shed and Woodcrafters are important services where people can hang out or talk to someone."

Men's Shed secretary Ian Stevens said he was unsure about the group moving.

"We're aware that council has discussed some possible developments regarding this precinct," he said.

"But if we have to move, who knows when that may be?

"We'll worry about it if the time comes.

"We've been told it could be a long way down the track, if it happens."

Another move that could save the council money is the buffer zone around the water treatment plant on Glen Rd.

Cr Bartley said a small group of Rosenthal Heights residents were in the process of organising a proposal for a zig zag grass path to be created near the zone.

Under the proposal Cr Bartley said it would be the committee's responsibility to maintain the area.

"This group has come forward with a proposal, which I have asked them put in writing to council," he said.

"The proposal needs to be put to council and then the council as a whole will consider it.

"But if the proposal was to go ahead, it is possible council could save some costs in the maintenance of that area."

An open meeting will be held at 4.30pm at the Men's Shed grounds on Wednesday May 20, regarding the proposal for the path and other issues.

Yve Stocks, who owns property in the region, will chair the meeting.

"We simply see this as a win-win proposal - the area is currently unused and is often overgrown," she said.

"We see this as a way that good use could be made of the area, and there would be no maintenance costs for council."

MEETING:

Wednesday, May 20, at the Warwick Men's Shed grounds, cnr of Glen Rd and Tooth St.

To discuss the proposal of a zig zag path and other issues relating to the area