Angry Glenelg locals say they’ve been ignored over proposed drug and alcohol clinic

Frustrated Glenelg locals say they’ve been ignored by a church setting up a drug and alcohol clinic near Jetty Road – and near schools.

The site of a proposed drug rehabilitation centre in the western suburbs. Picture by Kelly Barnes

Residents in a beachside suburb say they are concerned for their safety after being “blindsided” by a proposed drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre near schools and homes.

Not-for-profit organisation Uniting Communities plans to open the clinic just 12m from Jetty Rd, Glenelg.

The renovated former aged-care centre would house 12 beds and have on-site staff 24 hours a day.

In April, Uniting Communities announced it had “secured $2 million in additional” state government funding over three years, for the New ROADS program that operates residential rehabilitation services

“The program provides a mix of drug and alcohol support, counselling, case management, group work, support for family members, clean needle program, and home detox,” the organisation said.

Patients who seek treatment will be supervised while outside but can leave the clinic at any time by terminating their treatment.

Glenelg council and locals have scrutinised the new facility, expressing concerns it is not the right location because of nearby facilities and schools, including St Peter’s Woodlands.

Resident and local business owner Grace Mech says she’s been left without a voice by the process to set up the clinic. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Glenelg resident Grace Mech, 57, who runs her business from home where she lives with her husband and three kids, says she was blindsided by the new clinic.

“When we bought this property here, we bought it because of the safety in the street and what it represents – close to shops, schools, to Jetty Rd,” Ms Mech said.

“They don’t have any security keys for them to come in and out, so they can leave whenever. “They said they can’t but we’ve heard (differently), so we’re getting a lot of mixed signals.

“There’s a lot of old people in the streets, families, single mums and I’m really concerned.”

Ms Mech said she was presented with a proposed schedule for future service users at the clinic but was not confident the timetable would be effectively executed.

She said she raised her concerns with Uniting Communities in meetings but was left feeling “devalued” and “like they had no say in the matter or a voice”.

“I even said to my husband, ‘I don’t know if I can live with that next to me’, because it’s threatening my security pretty much and the safety of my kids.”

Uniting Communities service manager Leisha Olliver said the organisation had been “actively engaging with local residents, through several community meetings with residents, local schools and representatives”.

“We’re aware of some concerns and potential misinformation or misunderstanding about the service and we’ve been working to address that with those individuals.”

Ms Olliver said they had “never received a complaint from a school” while operating 12 similar residential sites across the state, some of which were close to schools.

“We are committed to ensuring the safety of all community members, including children,” she said.

“We do not anticipate this adversely impact any children, at school or on the street.

“From the outset of our discussions, we’ve been keen to work with any local schools to allay any apprehension and offered several briefings with school leadership on this program.

“Earlier this week, our most closely located school has taken us up on that offer.”

Ms Olliver said Uniting Communities was drafting a Neighbourhood Agreement with residents so they were able to “managed any perceived risks”.

Resident Olivia Nixon, with son Max, is worried about the proposed drug rehabilitation centre. Picture: Kelly Barnes

However, resident Olivia Nixon, 36, who lives on the street with her husband and two-and-half-year-old son, said she was “concerned for the safety of young children and the elderly residents”.

“There’s been very little consultation and there’s been a lot of changing and swapping stories to suit the narrative that they want to give us reassurance about what’s going to go ahead,” Ms Nixon said.

“I’m very worried that there will be lapses that happen on the street, that will happen in front of my child, or other children that live on this street or elderly residents that live right across the road.

“I have a right to feel safe where I live, and I just don’t feel like we’re being told the truth.”

Holdfast Bay Council mayor Amanda Wilson has expressed concerns about the lack of community and council consultation for the proposed facility and its suitability for the residential area.

“Three months ago, the council found out that Uniting Communities were doing a drug and alcohol clinic and they had not sought any sort of council approval for it,” Ms Wilson told ABC Radio.

“Then we discovered that they have actually already received a $6m grant to open up a drug clinic and rehab clinic there.

“So, we immediately told them that they had not gotten the necessary approvals from council, and if they didn’t obtain those approvals, we would be taking steps to stop them.”

Ms Wilson said the location was not ideal because of the nearby primary school with nearly 800 students and an ELC.

“It’s a heritage building that used to be used as an office and now they’re wanting to turn it into overnight stay rooms for people that are rehabilitating from drug use,” Ms Wilson said.

“That sort of thing needs to go to the community for consultation and ordinarily people that live nearby have the right to speak out and say they’re concerns.

“Ordinarily they would also have the chance to make representation to that suitability of the area, but they were all locked out of the process.”

Ms Wilson also claimed “the health minister applied to the planning minister for development approval,” under the disguise the clinic was a “Crown development”.

“We are very concerned that the community has been cut out of all consultation and that Uniting Communities, a church based group that does great things, is now being termed as a state agency and given approval,” she said.

“So, the process is the concern for us, what other developments can be marked as essential infrastructure and just pushed through by ministerial decisions making without any recourse to the community.”

A spokesperson for health minister Chris Picton said Uniting Communities already operated other facilities like what is proposed for Glenelg near schools and other community facilities, without incident.

“The development application will be going to the State Commission Assessment Panel for assessment. The local council will be able to have its views heard as part of that process,” the spokesperson said.