By Luke Voogt
Geelong administrators will decide the fate of a proposed rehabilitation centre sited 12 metres from a Highton bottle shop following a campaign by local residents.
The City referred the project to a Development Hearings Panel after receiving 99 objections by the deadline for public comment last Thursday.
Former councillor and Highton resident Ron Nelson submitted a further 427 signatures to City Hall on Tuesday night.
“I have heard the community and feel a responsibility to do more because there has been no community consultation by this council,” he said.
Mr Nelson said the centre should be sited near a hospital or in the countryside, not a residential area.
“We cannot deny that drug and alcohol addiction is a real problem in our society and we do need more rehab centres.
“But (the proposed clinic) is opposite a bottle shop, vet clinic and several other licensed clubs.”
In a letter to neighbouring residents, the company behind the project, Habitat Therapeutics, said clients who relapsed would be evicted without refund.
“The company keeps the money,” Mr Nelson said.
“They can then get another patient and get another $25,000 – I have a real ethical problem with that.”
But Habitat Therapeutics director and recovered alcoholic David Forbes said “clients will not be shuffled out the door”.
“It would point to a total lack in duty of care on our behalf. This is at odds with the congruous way in which Habitat Therapeutics and its staff operate.”
Mr Forbes added that learning to deal with temptation was part of the treatment.
“Imagine that we were to teach an alcoholic to completely avoid all contact with anything related to alcohol. It’s virtually impossible save for a life off the grid.”
Mr Forbes welcomed the review, saying he wanted the project to be as transparent as possible.
“We believe and are advised by planning experts that our application is compliant with council regulations.”
Doctor Kathy Alexander said she and her fellow administrators would hear from all parties concerned about project due to “a large amount of community concern”.
The administrators would then decide whether to approve the project at 4 North Valley Road, she said.
City Hall is yet to set a date for the hearing.
