A PROPOSED recovery house for former addicts has divided residents, with opponents holding concerns over its location.
Riverina Recovery House (RRH) is a private purpose-built treatment centre for people wanting to live a healthy life in recovery without drugs and alcohol planned for Lake Albert.
Developers – local business owners Debbie and Garry Cox and partners The Sanctuary Byron Bay – have stressed all residents must be detoxed and screened before being admitted.
But some locals maintain the development should not go ahead directly opposite a primary school in a highly residential area.
Lake Albert Outside School Hours Care (LAOSHC) co-ordinator Karlie Hubbard said there were concerns about the planned facility being opposite Lake Albert Public School, from which it operates out of.
She encouraged the public to attend an open information meeting on Wednesday night at the school hall from 7pm.
“The location is of current concern, but until we receive all opinions and views from our committee members, we’re unable to form a public stance,” she said. “It’s not only for Lake Albert people, but Wagga-wide to get more information because there is a lot of hearsay going on and we need to get all the facts.”
Lake Albert Public School Parents and Citizens Association (PCA) vice president Shennon Billingham said they were consulting with parents and the community.
“It’s important for people to attend (the meeting) to hear the information presented, share their concerns or ask the relevant questions,” she said.
The proposed development has divided residents online.
Amber Rose Lydell believed the centre did not fit in with the surrounding area, nearby house values would be affected and some would even take their children out of the school.
“Majority of people are wary of any place to do with drug addicts even if they are detoxed,” she wrote.
Katie Kukulovski agreed a more suitable location could be found. “I’m all for this in Wagga but not straight across from a school … Watch the crime rate go up in Lake Albert,” she said.
But Joel Seemo clarified the centre was for already detoxed people wanting a place to recover and learn how to live their lives drug free.
“No one has an issue with a pub being across the road from a school but when it comes to something that can actually help, you're all up in arms,” Tony Singwall said.
