Tourism operators slam Brighton Rd as proposed youth detention centre site
Locals have riled up against one of two proposed sites that could be the location for the state’s new youth detention centre – with one tourism operator branding the location incongruous to tourism. DETAILS >
Tasmania
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A plan to build a youth detention centre in a significant Tasmanian heritage and tourism area has been described as “ludicrous,” “incongruous” and “not clever” by locals.
Robert and Kerrie Goudsouzian, who live at Wybra Hall at Mangalore, said it was incomprehensible that the former boys’ home was closed in the mid 1980s “for exactly the same reasons as to why Ashley detention centre is now being closed”.
“Nothing has been learnt – history repeats,” they said.
“It is not the physical building that is the issue – it is the culture of cruelty and abuse perpetrated by some in authority that is the problem.
“Moving to a new location will not fix this – it’s just ‘moving the furniture’.
“The proposal to put a modern detention centre/juvenile jail here is ludicrous and shows lack of understanding of the importance of this area.”
A site on Brighton Rd between Pontville and Mangalore is one of two being considered for a youth detention centre.
The Goudsouzians are angry the proposed site is in a significant heritage area that includes some of the oldest Georgian residences in Australia dating back to the 1820s.
The couple say as well as being close to schools, the Pontville, Brighton and Mangalore areas are all “developing quickly as a place for young families”.
Craig Knight, chief operating officer of business Tasmanian Botanics has also questioned the location.
“I don’t think it is a very clever location. It’s not a great optic to have a youth detention centre next to Australia’s largest medicinal cannabis producer and in a heritage precinct.”
Dan Knight, the head of hospitality at Lark Distillery, which includes the Shene Estate and Distillery at Pontville, said he understood the need to find a site but did not see why a key tourist area was being considered.
“We are the start of the whisky trail and the government gave us $1m to boost tourism in the area and this would seem to undermine that,” he said.
“It is incongruous with that investment.”
Darren Genders shares a fence line with the proposed centre and hopes to reopen his vineyard Off the Rails Winery, which is temporarily closed.
He lives in a house built in 1886 and says the centre will “ruin the way I live my life, my view and devalue the property”.
“Not a single person wants it here.”
A Department for Education, Children and Young People spokesperson said independent planning consultants were engaged to undertake preliminary site assessments.
“Key considerations in these assessments included distance from the Hobart CBD, size of the land and proximity to townships, highways, support services, staff and access to the site.
“All feedback received through the consultation process, together with the infrastructure and operational considerations of each site, will be provided to the government to inform a final decision on a preferred site.”
Greg Barns SC ,Chair of the Prisoners Legal Service said the government should be ensuring new safe and nurturing housing for at-risk young people was placed near to health, education and family support.
“Communities need to understand they are far safer with young offenders being given support not jail,” he said.
Public submissions on the proposed centre close on May 4.
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