MP backs healing plan

By Casey Neill
EASTERN Metropolitan Region MP Brian Tee has supported plans for an Indigenous Healing Centre in Knox.
But The Basin residents remain strongly opposed to the service being located in their street.
Mr Tee said the municipality had the second highest Aboriginal population in the Eastern Metropolitan Region.
He said the centre’s aim was to heal damage caused by family violence, reconnect individuals and help them overcome pain, trauma and loss. He said research showed victims of family violence were often children who were abused, threatened or witnessed violence.
“For some of these children the life-long consequences are devastating,” Mr Tee said.
“They find it hard to concentrate at school, become disruptive, can drop out of the system and are sometimes tempted by crime.”
“We have to break the cycle if we want children to reach their full potential.”
Mr Tee could not comment on the specifics of the Augusta Road service because it was before the courts, but said the centre would operate during business hours and offered counselling such as music therapy, elders lunches and community song-writing.
“It is not a crisis response service or a drop-in centre,” he said.
Department of Human Services last December applied to use the home at 20 Augusta Road, The Basin as a centre for family violence victims and perpetrators.
Knox councillors granted the permit with strict conditions at their 28 April meeting.
The permit stipulated DHS must agree not to use the site as a drop-in centre, crisis accommodation, crisis intervention or halfway house. Those receiving treatment must do so voluntarily, and operating hours were limited.
But more than 60 objectors last month lodged an appeal against the permit with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Residents’ spokeswoman Robbie Fincham said the centre would have a detrimental affect on neighbourhood character and amenity, increase traffic and cause parking problems.
“It’s very simply inappropriate development in a residential street,” she said.