FACES behind plans to bring a private treatment centre to Wagga have moved to allay community fears that the proposed facility will house drug and alcohol addicts.
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The Riverina Recovery House (RRH), expected to be developed in Lake Albert, will be a private purpose-built treatment centre for people wanting to live a healthy life in recovery without drugs and alcohol.
Local business owners, Debbie and Garry Cox, are partnering with The Sanctuary Byron Bay to deliver the house, comprising four units with the capacity to house up to 15 residents.
The couple’s personal experience with a family member attending The Sanctuary was the catalyst to bring a similar facility to the region.
“A family member went through it,” Mrs Cox said.
“We just thought there was a huge hole in regional NSW for a facility like this.”
She stressed that the proposed centre, on the Main and Craft streets corner, is not for addicts.
“It is not a rehabilitation facility,” Mrs Cox said.
“It’s more of a wellness centre to (improve) healthy living and lifestyle.
“(People who attend) have already been detoxed.”
The Wagga centre will be modelled on the The Sanctuary Byron Bay’s seven-bed recovery has, which has run for more than 12 years and is considered one of the best treatment centres in the world.
Sanctuary program development consultant, Amos Hee, clarified the proposed facility was not a drug rehabilitation centre as some had speculated.
“It’s the opposite of a drug-using house as people imagine,” Mr Hee said.
“(Some) people have the idea it is going to get the dregs of society shooting up, but it’s not.
“It’s a private facility, so only people who can afford it (will attend).
“It’s a place (for people) to practise living healthily and completely substance-free.
“There will be no drugs or alcohol.”
Proponents maintain the development will have minimal impact on the neighborhood as the recovery house will be substance free, fully supervised and for stable people who have been screened.
In response to community concerns that the proposed development is located directly opposite Lake Albert Public School, an information evening will be held on Wednesday at 7pm in the school hall.
The school’s P&C Association and Wagga City Council will attend the meeting, which Kay Hull will chair.
