Town divides over potential new role for former primary school site

A SMALL northern community is threatening to fracture over the use of its former primary school by a Christian group.

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

A SMALL northern community is threatening to fracture over the use of its former primary school by a Christian group.

Locals and council are divided over whether the Meander Primary School, which shut its doors at the end of 2014, should be leased to Teen Challenge for use as a drug rehabilitation centre for women and children.

About 100 residents signed a petition protesting against a 5-4 council vote to enter into a lease of up to 15 years with the organisation.

They are seeking legal advice on whether the proposal can be stopped, saying it will impact on real estate values, spread a conservative Christian agenda and lock locals out of a community asset.

“They don’t seem to have professional credentials. It’s based on praying to be saved from these things,” opponents’ spokeswoman Bodhi McSweeney said.

“Most people think it would be much better suited to a more remote area, not right in the middle of the town.”

Teen Challenge’s expression of interest for the site was last month accepted by Meander Valley Council, which was obliged to use it for a community-based purpose.

The organisation, which has run centres interstate since 1971 and claims a success rate of up to 86 per cent, says it will establish a “Home of Hope” at the former school.

Its directors include Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten, Presbyterian Aged Care chief Stan Pisulak and Australian Christian Lobby state boss Mark Brown.

The proposal includes letters of support from politicians Guy Barnett and Greg Hall as well as former Anglican Bishop John Harrower, local residents and graduates of its program.

Teen Challenge executive director Tanya Cavanagh said Meander, with a population of about 400, had been chosen for its community spirit.

“It is a community where neighbours notice if there is no smoke coming up someone’s chimney and then go and see if that person is OK,” Ms Cavanagh said.

“This is exactly what women and kids trying to turn their lives around need to be surrounded by and shown what real community is all about.”

The program’s opponents say women could be discriminated against on the basis of their sexuality, a claim Teen Challenge denies.

“Home of Hope endeavours to accept any applicant who is willing to work within the program guidelines, which are informed by Christian principles,” Ms Cavanagh said.

Meander Valley mayor Craig Perkins, who supported the proposal, said the Home of Hope was not a detox centre and made good use of the school buildings.

“If you said, ‘What’s better for people to be addicted to, a faith or a drug?’ people can then make their choice,” Mr Perkins said.