COUNCILLORS have recommended a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre should be allowed to operate in a residential Wagga street despite fierce opposition from neighbours.
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More than 90 protesters, including children holding placards that read “who will keep us safe?”, flooded council chambers on Monday night to hear two hours of debate about the proposed 12-bed Riverina Recovery House at 199 Gurwood Street.
Adjoining neighbour Andrea Francis told councillors the proposed facility had cruelled hopes of selling her house and upgrading to a home with space to raise children.
“The proposal became public mid-way through the auction process and five prospective buyers withdrew interest, citing the recovery house as their sole reason,” Mrs Francis said.
Mrs Francis claimed she did not feel comfortable having a family next to recovering drug addicts and alcoholics.
“Would you feel safe knowing your children or grandchildren were playing next to 12 drug and alcohol addicts with only seven days of detox?”
Another objector, Sally Longmore, asked councillors if the 20 children living within a block of the Gurwood Street site were less worthy of protection than primary school children whose safety was at the heart of community backlash that sunk plans to build the facility in Lake Albert.
Medical anthropologist Amos Hee from the treatment centre intent on establishing a Wagga presence, The Sanctuary Byron Bay, said the facility would not attract “the bogey-man addict people are scared about”.
“These people aren’t caught up in crime, they have careers, savings, pay taxes, contribute to society and have families who love them,” Mr Hee said.
“We have treated the likes of doctors, nurses, two retired school principals, people who’ve retired and started drinking, and older people who’ve developed a dependence on prescription drugs.
“In the last two years we’ve had three people relapse; two went for a schooner of beer at the pub and the other took an unauthorised sleeping tablet.”
Mr Hee argued the treatment cost of $12,000 for 28 days was more than derelict and dangerous addicts could afford.
Councillors will make a binding decision on the fate of the facility at another meeting in two weeks.
