By Jena Carr
Surf Coast Shire Council will call for a forum to be held on a proposed community care unit in Torquay, following community concerns.
Councillor Heather Wellington put forward the notice of motion during the July 23 council meeting, which requested a forum between Mind Australia and the community.
Council unanimously accepted the motion to share information and address concerns regarding the proposed Haven Torquay facility on 26 Silvereye Street.
Cr Wellington said she believed the development should have been tested through a “normal planning process” to determine whether it was appropriate for the area.
“We do know that the residents of this facility will have significant mental ill health and require 24-hour support, that’s the nature of the facility,” she said.
“This is not a debate about whether people with serious mental illness and care needs are entitled to live with dignity within their communities. Of course they are; there is no question about that.
“There are real concerns about this development’s density, orientation, location opposite a primary school, lack of outdoor communal space, and proximity to a large cohort of busy and noisy children.
“I know the sense of fear, helplessness and anxiety that that sort of situation generates and…regrettably, I think this is a situation where the community is not being heard by anybody.”
Residents have also raised concerns regarding Haven residents smoking on balconies near children’s bedrooms and the proximity of the facility to people’s homes.
Cr Gary Allen said council officers have advocated to Mind Australia to better communicate with residents but that council did not have much power in the planning process.
“The additional advocacy may even be counterproductive and even cruel, to raise the resident’s expectations to have them disappointed again,” he said.
“Haven Homes is the project of Mind Australia and is classified as community care accommodation, which is exempt from requiring a planning permit.
“I feel that as a council we have done a great deal to advocate on behalf of the residents…and in my view, the only effective approach is to go to the body that has the power to act.”
