By KATH GANNAWAY
DRUG rehabilitation centre Narconon has appealed Yarra Ranges Council’s March decision to refuse a permit to set up a centre in residential Warburton.
Objectors to the proposal by the Association For Better Living and Education that runs Narconon, were notified this week that an appeal had been lodged with the Victorian Civil Appeals Tribunal (VCAT) .
There were more than 300 objections to the planning application to move Narconon from East Warburton to the Green Gables Conference Centre in La La Avenue, Warburton.
The SayNoToNarconon group, which was responsible for raising significant safety concerns through a Freedom of Information request to Victoria Police, have said they are “back on the case”.
In a letter to the Mail this week the group is calling on previous objectors to make a submission to VCAT, and urging others to look at the reasons Yarra Ranges Council rejected the application and join them.
“Our concerns and issues with Narconon’s proposal for Green Gables are significantly greater now than in March,” spokeswoman Lindy Schneider said.
Ms Schneider said the VCAT appeal started the process all over again and prior objections would not be considered.
“Given the damaging information that was revealed through FOI requests regarding the safety threats to our community we anticipate that many more people will now have reason to lodge an objection,” she said.
YRC O’Shannassy Ward representative, Cr Jim Child, said the council stood by and would defend its decision.
“It was a unanimous decision of the council and I believe it was the right decision,” he said.
Cr Child said he was disappointed that Narconon was going to VCAT.
“It just puts our community, and those residents close to this property, through all this anguish again; lodging statements of grounds (with VCAT) and having to go through the whole process all over again.”
Executive Director of Get Off Drugs Naturally (Narconon) Andrew Cunningham said the organisation has no comment on the VCAT appeal at this time but moved to reassure the Warburton community.
“Please be assured that we remain members of the community, contributing to the economy and local employment in the Warburton area, as well as offering a service which is aimed at helping others lead better lives,” Mr Cunningham said.
“We are willing to work with the community to overcome any issues of concern.”
The FOI summary, saynotonarconon statement, council reports and information on the VCAT process are online at www.saynotonarconon.org .
The closing date for submissions to VCAT is 18 June.
