Healing centre causes rift

By Casey Neill
RESIDENTS of The Basin fear that an indigenous healing centre may bring violence and crime to their quiet street.
This week they will meet the centre’s applicant to discuss their concerns.
The Department of Human Services this year lodged an application with Knox Council to change the use of 20 Augusta Road from a dwelling to a place of assembly, which would house an indigenous healing centre aimed at helping family violence victims and perpetrators.
Residents’ spokeswoman Robbie Fincham said the proposal was ill thought out and contravened local and state planning policies.
Ms Fincham said the development would bring increased traffic and parking.
“We believe a family violence centre in a residential street is completely inappropriate,” she said.
“And there’s nothing preventing the centre from turning into a drop-in centre or providing crisis accommodation at any time in the future.”
About 40 families call the suburban street home. Some have lived there for more than four decades.
“What everybody’s objected to is the introduction of violent people who’ve carried out family and sexual abuse, and people with drug and mental problems into a very quiet family street,” said one resident, Ken Burns.
Another resident, Brian Wynn, said the centre would bring night-time crime.
“It’s going to be a magnet for people breaking and entering, and possibly arson,” he said. “Because everybody will know there’s no one there at night time.”
Knox councillors will decide the fate of the contentious application at their 28 April meeting.
Knox’s City Development director Angelo Kourambas said the council would consider all relevant planning controls and regulations and submissions from the applicant and objectors.
Mr Kourambas confirmed the council had received 71 objections to the proposal, and no submissions in support.
The council held a planning consultation meeting with the applicant and objectors on 17 March.
A second meeting will be held at The Basin Progress Hall at 7pm tomorrow (Wednesday 8 April).
Ten residents last week met La Trobe MP Jason Wood to discuss the issue.
“We’re assuming the worst is going to happen, but you always have to hope for the best and plan for the worst,” he said.
Mr Wood said the centre was a “great concept”.
“I think it’s just the wrong location and you’ll have my support on seeing if you can get a different location,” he told residents.
“We can see if we can turn it into a win-win. I just think any sort of development in your street would be inappropriate.”
Residents have suggested several, larger alternative sites on mixed residential and non-residential roads, closer to public transport and other services.
Sites included the vacant Ferntree Gully secondary and primary schools, a block in Langwith Avenue in Boronia and Salvation Army land in The Basin.
A DHS spokesman said the department would continue to work with the council and community.
He said Knox had the second highest indigenous population in the Eastern Metropolitan Region, but “no Indigenous services delivery site”.
He said the site had room for the necessary buildings and car parking and access to public transport.