State Planning Minister Richard Wynne announces planning amendments for refugee accommodation in Eltham

SYRIAN refugees will be housed in stand-alone units in an aged care centre in Melbourne’s north after the Andrews Government fast-tracked planning decisions.

St Vincent’s Health Care Services has offered accommodation for Syrian refugees at its Diamond St housing in Eltham.

SYRIAN refugees will be housed in a Melbourne aged-care centre after the Andrews Government fast-tracked a planning decision.

Up to 120 refugees from Syria and Iraq will begin moving into the St Vincent’s Care Services in Eltham within the coming weeks.

St Vincent’s Care says the units will be separate to existing aged care units, but the controversial move has divided locals and their families. Supporters and opponents of the scheme took to the streets last weekend in Heidelberg and Eltham in demonstrations.

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Planning Minister Richard Wynne announced today he had approved St Vincent’s Care Services’ application to amend the Nillumbik Planning Scheme, which states that only people over the age of 65 can live at the site.

Melbourne Water’s approval was also required as part of the site in question was on a floodway zone.

The amendment will allow St Vincent’s Care Services and CatholicCare to push ahead with its Eltham Syrian Refugee project which will make 60 one-bedroom units at the Diamond St aged-care site available for short to medium term rentals to Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

Women and children will be given priority and no single men will be moving in to the accommodation.

St Vincent’s Health Australia Group chief executive Toby Hall said the amendment allowed his group to play a small part helping the refugees being welcomed by the Federal Government.

“This project reflects our mission to serve the most vulnerable members of our community.

“We have received great support from local community groups who also want to welcome refugees to Eltham”.

The refugees will soon be settled in Rundle House at the Diamond St aged-care site, which is currently unoccupied.

Mr Wynne said the State Government appreciated St Vincent’s Care Services’ efforts to help the refugees.

“St Vincent’s Care Services are one of many community groups working to accommodate refugees and we appreciate their efforts to help these vulnerable people.”

“We’re making sure that people who have fled war-torn countries have access to the services they need to settle in Victoria, because we have a responsibility to help people in desperate need of a safe and peaceful home.”

The pending decision was met with dismay by Federal Senator Pauline Hanson last month, prompting her to post a video rallying against the decision.

“Families of those residents have been ignored by the facility and elected members in their state, so they were left with no other option but to call me.

“I will be writing to all Ministers, State and Federal for a ‘Please Explain’.’’

The approval will be in place for two years and the arrangement is not expected to displace any current tenants.

Victoria is set to settle up to 4000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees.