Fears Toowong homeless plan will put children at risk

Residents fear the safety of their suburb could be at risk for years to come under a plan to move at-risk people to a student highrise.

A Toowong resident has spoken out about a State Government decision to move 300 at-risk people into a highrise student building, saying she was worried it could result in children being assaulted.

And another resident questioned whether the decision, quietly announced on Housing Minister Mick de Brenni’s website on Good Friday, was even legal.

Sue Mitchell said she accepted the at-risk people, who were moved last week from hostels in West End and Spring Hill, needed to be protected from coronavirus.

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But she said a 12-month lease over the Atira highrise on Glen Rd was excessive, particularly considering the number of coronavirus cases was now consistently below 10 per day.

“We understand they have to be protected, but a 12-month lease is too long,’’ she said.

“What if it’s more than 12 months (if building owner Scape chooses to exercise an option to extend)?

“It’s not just break and enters we’re talking about. It’s the safety of our kids.

“I don’t want to sit back and do nothing, if down the track a little kid gets assaulted.’’

Beresford Freshney, who has children aged 14 and 16, said Atira was on a popular bike route used by children and students, and was near the busy Benson St bus stop, used by hundreds of students at all hours of the day.

“The curve is flattening — why does it need to be a 12-month lease?’’ he said.

“What is the Government’s exit strategy if we contain coronavirus well before the 12 months is up?

“Once COVID-19 is cleared up, we don’t want this as a legacy in our community.’’

Mr Freshney said the controversial Atira project, which was opposed by residents for a lack of parking, among other issues, required a special development application restricting its use to rooming accommodation for off-site students.

But it now was possibly the largest “halfway house’’ in Queensland, if not Australia.

He queried whether the deal was even legal.

Ms Mitchell called on local Greens state MP, Michael Berkman, to confirm whether he supported Mr de Brenni’s decision.

Mr Berkman told Westside News last week he was furious neither he, nor residents, had been informed, but also condemned a leaflet circulated to neighbouring homes last week.

The leaflet, headlined “Toowong Housing Commission?’’, said:

“The Department of Housing is moving 300 “vulnerable (drug addicts, homeless, just out of prison etc) people into a student accommodation block near your home,’’ it read.

“How dare the State Government do this without community consultation?? SHAME.

“How dare your Green MP, Michael Berkman, support this without telling us about it?? SHAME.’’

Mr Berkman said the leaflet was divisive, disappointing and contained misinformation.

“Unfortunately, someone in the community has taken it upon themselves to spread misinformation and fear about this, letterboxing the neighbourhood with a flyer containing a number of untruths and inflammatory language, suggesting that our neighbourhood is about to be flooded with “drug addicts, homeless” and people “just out of prison”.

“This is an incredibly disappointing development.

“This is unfair, divisive, and I don’t believe for a second this is how most of us here in our community feel.

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“In these times of heightened fear and anxiety it’s vital that we look after each other and support our most vulnerable members of society.

“The Department of Housing has support structures in place for people transitioning from homelessness, or those with substance dependence issues, and they’re under immense pressure at the moment dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.’’

Mission Australia Queensland director Darren Young said there was concern in the sector about how to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the homeless community.

At hostels such as Roma House in Spring Hill the residents lived close together and used common areas.

Moving to Atira would allow them to self isolate.