Christian group says it will keep fighting for Meander rehab centre

A Christian organisation that wants to establish a rehab centre in a tiny Tasmanian township says it won’t give up, despite a fresh roadblock hindering its plans. LATEST NEWS >>

Meander Primary School. Picture: Chris Kidd

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PLANS to establish a Christian women’s drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre at the former Meander Primary School site have been dealt a major blow, leading to claims the delays are not just an inconvenience but “a matter of life or death”.

Teen Challenge is an international religious organisation based in the United States, which runs a number of addiction centres across Australia and plans to establish a rehab centre named Home for Hope in the tiny North-West township.

In 2016, the Meander Valley Council voted in favour of giving Home for Hope a 15-year lease after the primary school closed down in 2014.

But residents have staunchly fought the decision – and have now had a win, thanks to a Supreme Court of Tasmania appeal.

Team Teen Challenge Tasmania director Peter Ferrall and executive director Tanya Cavanagh.

“It’s the wrong place – the school is right in the middle of town so it’s the wrong place for any rehabilitation,” Bodhi McSweeney, the Meander Residents and Ratepayers Association president said.

“And we’ve discovered the nature of the program is very limited so it only allows people in who abide by their Christian values – even though they say you don’t have to be a Christian. It’s a faith-based program so they say if you pray enough, you’ll be delivered from your addiction.

“We’d like to see any rehabilitation centre in Tasmania to be fully regulated and to have the relevant mental health professionals on-site.”

Meander’s residents have been battling the council for several years over its decision to grant a permit, and have been fronted in court proceedings by local business Timber World.

Now, following a judgment handed down by Chief Justice Alan Blow, the residents have moved a step closer to their aims after proving Home of Hope didn’t comply with legislation relating to bushfire-prone areas.

Bodhi McSweeney, campaigning against Christian group Teen Challenge taking over former Meander Primary School. Picture Chris Kidd

The judge set aside a decision approving the permit by the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal.

He remitted the case back to the tribunal – to be presided over by different members – for reconsideration.

Teen Challenge Tasmania executive director Tanya Cavanagh said the organisation hoped the Meander Valley Council would continue the appeals process because Tasmanian women and children’s needs were “too important to walk away from”.

“During this COVID-19 period we received multiple calls of help from individuals and family members. There are simply no other options for Tassie women and kids wanting to turn their lives around from addiction in a safe, residential setting,” she said,

“We had the police contact us to help a woman sleeping in her car. The need is great … every delay is not an inconvenience to just us but a matter of life or death for a very real Tassie woman and her children.”

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