By Luke Voogt
Residents are petitioning City Hall against a proposed drug rehabilitation project sited 12 metres from a Highton bottleshop.
But the proponents say the clinic’s vital service would help alleviate a shortage of rehabilitation opportunities across the region.
City Hall’s online planning page had received 82 objections to the proposal for 4 North Valley Road before the deadline for public comment yesterday (Thursday).
Former Geelong councillor Ron Nelson said he had collected a further 240 signatures against the Habitat Therapeutics plan.
“We understand the need for these facilities but it’s the location,” Mr Nelson told the Indy.
“For goodness sake, don’t put them opposite to a bottleshop – the temptation’s just too great.”
“Concerned residents are calling me to find out what’s going on. I’ve even had paramedics sign the petition to say how ridiculous the location is.”
Objector Graham Hobbs held a meeting with about 60 residents and representatives of Habitat Therapeutics on Monday.
“Highton residents are extremely concerned,” Mr Hobbs said.
The 70-year-old retired lawyer described the proposal as “totally inappropriate” for the area.
“Quite frankly, I don’t think they’ve thought it through,” he said.
Mr Hobbs said the site was also 12 metres from a veterinary clinic where his wife previously worked and which stocked medicinal drugs.
“At one point we had three break-ins in six days. We’ve had those experiences and we don’t want the current veterinarians to experience that.”
Mr Hobbs said the facility should be in a semi-rural area.
He cited Foundation 61, a not-for-profit rehabilitation centre at Mt Duneed.
“They have larger rooms, good community areas, gardens and the ability to grow things and learn skills.”
But Habitat Therapeutics director David Forbes said the vast majority of Highton and Geelong residents would understand the need for the rehabilitation facility.
Mr Forbes said he was determined to help others on the same path that led him to alcoholism, from which he had recovered.
“I’ve invested my life in this thing,” he told the Indy.
“We have empathy for the residents who have concerns but our process is open and transparent.”
Mr Forbes said the private facility would fill a vital need to treat drug and alcohol abuse in Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.
The bottleshop’s proximity would not be detrimental to patients’ treatment, which included learning to deal with exposure to alcohol, he said.
“Imagine we were to teach an alcoholic to completely avoid all contact with anything related to alcohol – it would be virtually impossible, save for a life off the grid.
“Most facilities of our type have licensed venues, bottleshops, BYO restaurants … within proximity.”
The number of objections means City Hall is likely to refer the proposal to a development hearings panel.
