Mind Australia committed to controversial Haven Home mental health facility in Torquay

The organisation behind a controversial mental health facility has doubled down on its intention to build the facility just metres from a local Surf Coast primary school.

The developer behind a controversial mental health facility has doubled down, and will not reconsider building housing adjacent to local primary school. But residents are pushing back.

The developer of a controversial mental health facility shows no sign of walking away from the project despite residents ramping up their campaign and opposition from the local MP.

In correspondence to one resident, seen by the Geelong Advertiser, Mind Australia executive Mark Heeney confirmed that construction of Haven Torquay would soon commence.

Mr Heeney said preparatory works were already underway at the Silvereye St site and there were no plans for further modification or amendments.

The site is just metres from Torquay Coast Primary School in north Torquay.

Mind Australia has also ruled out relocating the facility to South Beach Rd, as suggested by some residents.

That government-owned site was supposed to be home to the Torquay hospital promised by South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman, but the project remains in doubt.

Mind Australia deemed the location “manifestly unsuitable”.

“The whole (South Beach Rd) area is residentially undeveloped, isolated, not close to amenities and a manifestly unsuitable location to situate people with mental health challenges,” Mr Heeney said.

It comes as Polwarth MP Richard Riordan spoke out regarding the lack of community consultation surrounding Haven Torquay.

“It’s not consultation, it’s talking at the community,” he said.

“Not one element has been changed or modified based on community feedback.”

Under the state government’s planning scheme, the facility does not require council approval.

Mr Riordan said Mind Australia should work with the community and consider the South Beach Rd site.

“There’s government land sitting vacant around the corner,” he said.

“The laws weren’t meant to be abused to build whatever you want, wherever you want.”

Mr Riordan said Haven Torquay was “staggeringly different” to Mind Australia’s Highton facility on Roslyn Rd, which was surrounded by large outdoor space.

“This facility is not, it’s a complete over development,” he said.

“It’s just inappropriate and it is disingenuous to say that it’s appropriate ”

A Mind Australia spokesman said they had made some modifications to the building and landscaping of Haven Torquay following feedback from nearby residents.

“We are not intending to relocate Haven Torquay,” he said.

“Construction at Haven Torquay is expected to commence soon.”

North Torquay residents opposed to the facility continue to plead for Surf Coast Shire Mayor Liz Pattison and chief executive Robyn Seymour to facilitate a meeting between them and Mind Australia.

A petition has received more than 900 signatures.

One of the group’s main concerns what they say will be health risks posed to children by higher than average smoking rates.

“International and Australian studies among people with psychotic illness such as schizophrenia have found rates of smoking between 60-73 per cent,” the group said in a statement on Wednesday.

“How do they (Mind Australia) propose to manage this?”

Mr Heeney said residents who smoke “tend to do so predominantly within the bounds of their Haven residence”.

“Should they choose to do so elsewhere it should be remembered that this is not illegal and many other citizens choose to do so,” he said.

Originally published as Mind Australia committed to controversial Haven Home mental health facility in Torquay