Ellendale residents rally over plan to house ex-cons in community

A FIERY town hall meeting is expected in Ellendale tonight with locals up in arms about a home for ex-prisoners being bought in the area.

Elizabeth Coleman is part of a community group hoping to purchase the former Hayes Prison Farm from the State Government as a re-homing centre for ex-prisoners called Freedom Village

A FIERY town hall meeting is expected in Ellendale tonight, with locals up in arms about a home for ex-prisoners being bought in the area.

The Freedom Centre, which already hosts former inmates at a small farm south of Hobart, is expanding into the small Derwent Valley township.

The centre has been helping ex-prisoners reintegrate into society for more than a decade.

But a group of Ellendale residents are concerned about the impact of a centre on their area.

Wayne Booth, who is ­behind tonight’s meeting, bel­ieves the property could house sex offenders.

“We’re not against the fact of reforming prisoners ... but we don’t want to be a dumping ground for other people’s rubbish,” Mr Booth said.

“They’ve tried to sneak them in through the back door.”

In a letter to the community, Freedom Centre director Elizabeth Coleman said people had nothing to fear from the three elderly men who would be living at the property.

“They have been with us for quite some time now and are very nice people with skills that could help your township. We ask you to accept them into your community,” Ms Coleman wrote.

“They will not harm anyone and we are sure you will like to get to know them and find them quality people.”

Ms Coleman said the centre had been supported by the Justice Department and Risdon Prison in the past and co-operated with police.

Prisoners Legal Service chairman Greg Barns said the centre had a good track record of supporting ex-prisoners.

“All of those ex-prisoners are entitled to housing irrespective of what crime they committed.

They are entitled to live in peace and not be harassed,” said Mr Barns, who is also a Mercury columnist.