By KATH GANNAWAY
Concerns over plan to start anti-drug scheme…
A PROPOSAL to run live-in drug rehabilitation programs at Green Gables Conference Centre in Warburton has sparked concern about both the use and the lack of information about the project in the wider community.
The Association for Better Living and Education has applied for a planning permit to change the approved use of the LaLa Avenue property from a conference centre to an education centre.
The proposal is to relocate Narconon, a drug treatment program based on the teachings of Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, from O’Shannassy Lodge in East Warburton.
Yarra Ranges Council confirmed it sent out 56 letters predominately to owners and occupiers who adjoin the site, but residents who have contacted the Mail say it is a change of use that could affect the entire community.
Green Gables is within a few hundred metres of Warburton Primary School.
One neighbouring resident who received notification on Monday 17 June said she had lived in the area for more than 20 years and was shocked when she realised the proposal was for a drug rehabilitation centre.
She spoke with the Mail on the understanding that she not be named.
“It all seems pretty innocuous when you see change from conference centre to education centre, but when you look a bit further it’s not at all what it seems,” she said.
She said her concerns were about “the type of people” who would be living on the property, the effect on property values and what she said was a lack of transparency about who was involved.
The Mail spoke with several other residents, most of whom said they had not heard of the proposal, but felt it was something that should be more widely discussed, and others who live nearby Green Gables but also said they were fearful of speaking out, and didn’t want to speak on the record.
Some said they had no objection to Narconon, but were strongly opposed to it being set up in a residential area, close to the local primary school.
In a question and answer attachment to the application, consultants Millar Merrigan address some of the issues raised by concerned residents.
They say it is not a drug and alcohol program but an education program that teaches life skills.
The Narconon website, however, describes the program as “a residential drug rehab and detox centre for people who want to get off drugs and stay off drugs”.
Dr Nerada James from Get Off Drugs Naturally also confirmed it was a drug rehabilitation centre.
She told the Mail she welcomed discussion on the proposal.
“There are some misconceptions around Get Off Drugs Naturally, which uses the Narconon methodology, currently located in the O’Shannassy Lodge,” she said.
She said she and a colleague had visited local residents over the past month to answer questions and allay fears that the program was not “an Odyssey House”, needle exchange or methodone program.
Dr James said ABLE was a secular corporation and was independent from the Church of Scientology but used Hubbard’s metholology.
She said the planning report submitted to Yarra Ranges Council clearly stated that it was a drug and alcohol education and rehabilitation program, but said education was 90 per cent of the program.
“We are applying for the same use as we have at our current property at O’Shannassy Lodge, which is an ‘educational facility’,” Dr James said.
She said fears expressed about Scientology were based on myths and falsehoods perpectuated by the press and that residents should have no hesitation in contacting her.
She said the organisation would be amenable to a public meeting on the matter and referred people to the Get Off Drugs Naturally website for information on the organisation.
Yarra Ranges Council’s planning director Andrew Paxton said the land was zoned Low Density Residential and was affected by the Bushfire Management Overlay.
He said the proposed would require a planning permit.
“Council will consider objections to the application up until a decision is made,” he said adding that currently the application would be assessed by council planning officers – as opposed to going to a full council meeting.
“Council can potentially make a decision on the application as soon as 3 July,” he said.
The planning application can be viewed at Lilydale and Yarra Junction Community Links.
The Mail was unable to contact the owner of Green Gables, listed as G Black on the application.
