Neighbouring residents have expressed concerns about an application to provide short term supported accommodation for individuals struggling with substance abuse issues in Mount Gambier’s CBD.

Thirty-seven residents opposed to the proposal have raised concerns regarding the unsuitability of the Uniting Communities Wehl Street South site and a lack of consultation about the matter.

The opponents have raised concerns regarding the location of the proposed treatment centre, citing its proximity to Reidy Park Primary School, Carma Playhouse and nearby residences.

The occupants said they received letters about the facility’s proposed change of use from an office to short term supported accommodation on May 31.

Several of the concerned citizens attended the Limestone Coast Southern Regional Assessment panel last week to make their thoughts on the matter known which they claim was the first time they were provided consultation regarding the development.

At the assessment panel, the neighbours said Uniting Communities could not provide a legitimate reason as to why consultation had not occurred.

Neighbour Chris Dycer said if the letter was not a requirement the residents would not know about the building’s change of use.

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“All we got was a letter in the mail,” neighbour Chris Dycer said.

“I would have thought if you were trying to do this properly you would have consulted; you would have knocked on the neighbours’ doors or you would have sent them a letter of what (you) intend to do.

“From the outside looking in it looks like this was planned just to slowly just go through the system.

“It was a whitewash all the way through, there was no other word to describe it.

“Their expectation is no one leaves the place but it’s not practical because they have no control, they cannot lock the door.”

The neighbours said they believe the planning process was flawed because it did not consider community risk assessment or wellbeing.

Local resident John Jablonski said the site was not conducive for rehabilitation.

“We sort of do not believe the site over there is planned for the success of the clients,” he said.

“We all know there is a problem out there and we all want good solutions, especially for the people suffering addictions, but it gives them no dignity.

“It is not the correct location, we as a community can all do better.”

Local MLC Ben Hood has taken up the fight on behalf of those residents and businesses opposing the Uniting Communities proposal, after being approached by a “significant number of concerned residents about the proposed facility and short term assisted rehab accommodation on Wehl Street”.

“It’s hard not to understand the serious concerns the residents have considering that Wehl Street South is a real thoroughfare for Reidy Park, the childcare centre that is situated there and the residents own concerns around safety,” he said.

“One of the major things was a real concern around lack of consultation from Uniting Communities.

“The residents believe that with no consultation with namely residents and businesses and as I understand other referring business locally for the proposed development it causes the residents to have concerns that if consultation ss not there in the first instance then how is this service going to e run into the future?”

Mr Hood said he understood there had been a similar issue with Uniting Communities with a very similar development in Glenelg, where he believes a lack of consultation was an issue.

“There’s no doubt that it’s very important that we have these services for people who want to break that cycle of addiction and it is vitally important they receive the best service they can when and where they need it, but in a residential area surrounded by schools, business and childcare, it’s the residents of Wehl Street South’s opinion and I share it that this is probably not the best location for this type of service,” he said.

“Uniting Communities should be looking to find a more suitable solution for the location.

“I attended the regional assessment panel meeting, a number of the members of that panel asked some really pertinent questions and you could see they felt real sympathy with the residents of Wehl Street, but this type of development and this type of situation does show there are probably some issues with a regional assessment panel in that it is not just Mount Gambier members of the community it is from a regional perspective.

“The regional assessment panel is doing its job by assessing purely by the development code and making decisions on the development code.

“As we all know these things are not black and white, they have implications for people who have invested money and energy and love and all those types of things into their homes and they want to maintain that amenity and feeling in where they live.

“In speaking with the residents none of them are denying that we need these services, but Wehl Street South in their opinion and mine is not a suitable location.”

The Limestone Coast Southern Regional Assessment has requested additional information from Uniting Communities about the proposal, which will be referred back to the assessment panel for further consideration on the matter.

The panel is requesting more information about lighting, fencing and security cameras, as well as a landscaping and car parking plan showing areas for outdoor space by the clients of the proposed development.

Further information is also requested regarding details of waste management of the site, s well as additional details regarding management of clients and activities to minimise impacts to the local community.

After the additional information has been provided the Development Application will be referred back to the assessment panel for further consideration.

Uniting Communities has been contacted for comment.