Locals in elite Bowral rage over a $25,000 a week luxury rehab clinic, slamming risk of ‘drugged’ patients in their pricey patch

Locals in an idyllic country town have declared war on operators of a luxury rehabilitation centre that charges patients $25,000 per week.

Residents of an elite neighbourhood in an idyllic rural setting in New South Wales are preparing for war with operators of an exclusive drug, alcohol and mental illness rehabilitation clinic.

Highlands Recovery operates a “world-class trauma and addiction rehab” facility at a grand estate in Bowral in the Southern Highlands, charging patients $25,000 per week for treatment.

Sydney company Paraclesus Health bought the nine-bedroom mansion last April for an undisclosed price, although the listing originally had price expectations of more than $20 million.

“Highlands Recovery is a leading institute for intensive trauma treatment, addressing PTSD, anxiety, depression, addictions, and intimacy issues,” a website description reads.

The mammoth property was purchased by a Sydney based healthcare company.

The picturesque town of Bowral is in the Southern Highlands. Picture: Wesley Lonergan

The facility is seeing patients and has advertised two current vacancies for those in need of treatment, allegedly in violation of regulations because Wingecarribee Shire Council has not granted it approval.

“Wingecarribee Shire Council has initiated compliance action regarding the use of the premises,“ Michael McCabe, director of communities and place, said in a statement.

“Due to the ongoing nature of this matter, we are unable to provide further comments at this time.”

Now, a showdown is set to erupt in the Land and Environment Court after the operators appealed council’s rejection of their development application.

Local fury over looming dangers

When residents became aware of plans for the clinic in mid-2024, dozens flooded Wingecarribee Shire Council with their objections.

In a letter, one local expressed concerns that “no doubt guests at this facility” will have dependencies on heavy drugs like morphine, heroine, cocaine and methamphetamines.

“Society also knows due to numerous murders, assaults and robberies that the perpetrator is usually someone dependent upon one of the above mentioned substances or has mental health disorders,” the resident wrote.

One resident even linked the operation of the facility to the horror stabbings at Westfield Bondi Junction last year.

“I reluctantly bring this up,” he wrote. “My wife has a professional connection with a victim … and it still haunts her till this day.”

Similarly, another brought up the Bondi stabbings and noted that the attack was “committed by someone suffering from mental illness”.

“Our quiet community is ill-equipped to deal with the safety issues that could arise if volatile patients with anti-social behaviours cannot be adequately controlled,” he added.

The facility is run from a sprawling mansion in Bowral in the Southern Highlands.

Another man who lives in the neighbourhood warned of the apparent likelihood of “drugged” patients fleeing the facility and “breaking and entering surrounding homes, trying to find drug deals, or stealing a vehicle … only to run over any number of local kids and families”.

“I would also ask how you would react if the same situation was proposed to be carried out next to your home address,” he added.

The running of the rehab clinic in a residential area was “frankly absurd” and “beggars belief”, one man wrote in his objection, adding that the local “retirees, young families and vulnerable children” value their “peace and quiet”.

“We would all be severely impacted by the loss of our safety, mental health wellbeing, and existing way of life.”

The program comes at a cost of about $25,000 per week.

The property was listed for sale with price expectations of $20 million.

He also raised concerns about the fact that “rather than be locked in the facility … clients will be encouraged to walk around the area and interact with residents”.

And should the clinic be allowed to operate, “property values in the vicinity would be severely impacted”.

Finally, the man made a point of mentioning that investors in the company were “Dubai-based”.

Several residents who wrote to council also pointed out the foreign investor connection, with one woman describing a “worrying amount of secrecy”.

“Attempts to find out [who they are] have been blocked, although we now understand that the new owner resides in Dubai,” she wrote.

“We would be interested to know who this person is, and if this investment was cleared and approved by the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board.

“As a vulnerable retired woman, whose husband spends considerable time away on business, I am very upset by this situation.”

Dozens of objections were sent to council by concerned locals, with several referencing the stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction last year.

Improvements made to the site, including a tennis court and swimming pool, have also raised the ire of locals.

“This will generate both a significant and unacceptable amount of noise and activity,” one wrote.

A couple who “live around the corner” said they wouldn’t have bought their home four years ago had the facility been in operation.

“Everyone who lives here loves it for the privacy and exclusive environment we paid very dearly to enjoy.

“It is widely accepted that people with a history of drug use or mental illness can display violence, paranoia, agitation, hallucinations and psychosis.”

The property has a pool, tennis court and sauna that patients can use.

Locals weren't aware of the plans for the estate when it was sold.

Another spoke of her belief that opportunistic drug dealers would frequent the area, catering to a captive clientele.

“People with major addictions and also those experiencing trauma and mental health disorders are usually desperate, not thinking rationally and often unstable and dangerous to those around them,” she said.

She added that a nature reserve in the neighbourhood “could become a hangout for the affected guests or their connections”.

Others noted the prospect of increased traffic from patients, their visitors and employees of the facility, including security, health professionals and chefs.

Treatment for the rich and famous

Despite the rejection from council, the facility began operating last year – much to the horror of locals.

“Residents in the area have already been negatively impacted by extraordinarily bright lighting, extra traffic including cars and trucks and additional noise,” Bowral Action Group, a collective of neighbours, said.

Resh Joseph, clinical director at Highlands Recovery.

In a statement to media, the company operating the facility said resident concerns were “inaccurate and unfounded”.

“Our clients are high-functioning, successful individuals who are seeking a premium care facility to treat their trauma,” it said.

“They do not pose a risk to the community simply because they suffer from mental health conditions.”

Forbes published a review of Highlands Recovery in August last year, describing its “five-star accommodation, a pool, tennis court, sauna and fully kitted-out gym”.

The facility’s chief executive Cameron Francis told the magazine he was receiving 100 queries a week from prospective patients.

“We only have 10 beds,” Mr Francis told Forbes. “There’s clearly huge demand out there, despite the pricepoint.”

Luxury private rehab isn’t cheap. Some prominent clinics charge up to $150,000 per month, while even more exclusive offerings can set patients back $350,000 for a 30-day stay.

The facility is currently treating clients, who sign up for a minimum 28-day stay.

The luxury rehab facility comes at a cost of about $25,000 per week.

Resh Joseph, clinical director at Highlands Recovery, told Forbes that patients get a lot of bang for their buck.

“For that sort of money, I would want a program that covers the best of everything,” Mr Joseph said. “And by that I mean, the best biological health we can provide, the best psychological health we can provide, and the best in terms of social medicine as well.”

Given the cost, the program is targeted at high net worth individuals and celebrities who value privacy and seclusion.

“We will literally say, we’ll send a car to pick you up this afternoon, or we will hire a jet for you if we need to … we can make those arrangements,” Mr Francis said.

Patients signing up to a 28-day program take part in a 12-hour schedule five days per week, beginning with yoga at 7am, continuing through the morning with individual and group therapy, adding education and study sessions in the afternoon, and finishing with sauna and social time.

Other specialised activities are also available, such as equine therapy.

In late October, council formally rejected the company’s development application, citing the objections from “a number of concerned residents”.

An appeal was lodged in the Land and Environment Court in November.

Originally published as Locals in elite Bowral rage over a $25,000 a week luxury rehab clinic, slamming risk of ‘drugged’ patients in their pricey patch