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Fears of social upheaval caused by a controversial rehab house are largely unfounded, according to a report handed to council.
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The developers of the Riverina Recovery House have put forward their Gurwood Street plans again, including a social impact assessment that shows land values won’t be affected.
It has led residents to gear up for yet another fight to keep addicts out of their neighbourhood.
According to a social impact assessment (SIA) lodged by developers, there was “no evidence of any detrimental impacts” to the community.
“It is unlikely the facility will see any decrease in property values,” the report said. “The positive social impacts outweigh any potential for negative social impacts.”
This week council sent letters about the resubmission to neighbouring residents such as Mick Walker, who lived across the street from the proposed centre. Mr Walker said he was very upset when he opened his letterbox and the plans had caused a lot of stress on residents and their families.
“The developers have at their disposal a new greenfield subdivision, if they argue it won’t effect lives or property values then let people choose to buy near it,” Mr Walker said. “We’re already here, we don’t have that choice.”
The RRH has generated considerable debate since it was first proposed 18 months ago. Property owners argued it would lower their land values and could endanger children, while medical professionals argued about the need for a recovery house in the city.
The project is close to the hearts of developers Debbie and Garry Cox, who had a family member sent to a similar facility in Byron Bay.
“There’s nothing like it here,” Mrs Cox said.
“Since we started five local people have gone to Byron Bay when they would have loved to stay in Wagga.
“Why should families have to be without dads, mums or kids who have to go a long distance away when we could have the facility here?”
If approved, the 12-bedroom, privately-run recovery house will occupy the former “Millie’s Guesthouse” site at the corner of Gurwood and Gossett streets. But a visit to the addiction-recovery facility won’t come cheap, with reports of a 28-day stay costing in the vicinity of $12,000.
Given the property’s controversial history, Wes Fang from Wagga Ratepayers Community urged worried residents to make a new submission about the RRH to council.
“We’re not advocating either way for this facility, but given a similar application at this address was rejected by the previous council, we hope the community consultation process for this application is strong and rigorous, given the obvious angst of local residents and ratepayers who have contacted us,” Mr Fang said.
“Given this is a new application, we’d remind those with concerns (that) they must make a new submission submission to council, as the previous file will likely be considered closed.”
While councillors rejected the previous application in the lead up to last year’s local government elections, it is expected the new council – one of the most progressive in the city’s history – will be more favourable.