The Glen: Controversial drug and alcohol rehabilitation home for Women goes before panel
A controversial $2.4 million drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre for women at Wyong Creek will go before the Local Planning Panel for a decision this week.
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The Local Planning Panel will decide the fate of a controversial drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility at Wyong Creek when it meets on Thursday.
A report to the panel recommends $2.4m The Glen for Women Transitional Group Home be approved.
The Glen purchased the property at 253 Yarramalong Rd, formerly known as the Moo Cow Farm, in April.
It then lodged a development application to turn the circa 1904 homestead into an administration building, knock down some ancillary structures and build a 20-bed residential rehabilitation facility on the 4.4ha property.
But surrounding residents were worried about the impact of the development on the locality. including social impacts, amenity, traffic and parking, safety and security and environmental
concerns.
Central Coast Council received 60 written submissions with many arguing the development was not compatible with the character of the rural area.
However the report before the planning panel states the buildings would be “domestic in style”, have generous setbacks from neighbouring properties and existing paddocks would be retained.
“The proposed development will allow the site to retain its existing rural setting; its built form is consistent and in harmony with the existing streetscape and is considered to be compatible with the character of the Wyong Creek area,” the report states.
Other submissions raised concerns about public safety and break-ins to surrounding properties.
However the report states all residents at the facility must have been sober for five days before entering and the submitted plan of management, which includes having staff at the facility 24-hours a day, CCTV, and only allowing visitors by appointment, could mitigate those risks.
“Residents who leave the facility as they are discharged from the program will not be allowed to walk from the facility,” the report states.
“They will either have a lift prearranged with family or friends or will be taken by a staff member to a safe place identified in their exit plan.”
At least two submissions called for a 1.8m high security fence similar to that of NSW public schools however this was “not be considered appropriate within the rural setting” of the property.
“The proposed development has addressed the potential social impacts which are considered to be minimal as the (transitional group home) facility is capable of being well managed and staffed,” the report advises.
The Glen chief executive officer Joe Coyte told the Express Advocate he was happy with “the process” and had listened to residents’ concerns and made changes accordingly.
One change includes moving the existing driveway 20m away from a slight bend in the 80km/h speed limited road for improved safety.
“To be honest we think it’s a really, really good example of the (planning) system working well,” he said.
“We want to make sure it’s a great space for the women to get the support they need but we don’t want to impact on anyone,” he said.
Should the planning panel approve the development, Mr Coyte said they would be aiming to build the facility and have it opened by “early 2022”.