MP, community question proposed care facility

POLWARTH Liberal MP Richard Riordan will ask government planning authorities and developers for more information about a proposed residential mental health care facility in the Stretton Torquay housing estate.

Mr Riordan hosted a meeting of about 25 concerned residents at the proposed site on Silvereye Street.

The Haven Foundation has proposed to build a 12-unit residence at the empty corner block.

It said in a letter to neighbours this week that the residence would “support people from the local area who have long-term mental health and wellbeing concerns to live independently in the community”.

Residents would have access to 24-hour support from mental health practitioners.

A construction date is not yet confirmed, but the proponents indicated the build would take 12 months to complete.

Neighbours of the proposed development said this week they were shocked to learn of the idea.

Concerns raised included proximity to Torquay Coast Primary School across the road, traffic and parking impacts at the narrow street and busy school drop-off area, and the height of buildings in the residential area.

Haven has indicated it will begin doorknocking nearby residents to meet with them and answer questions about the project.

The Torquay project has funding from the state government’s $5.3 billion Big Housing Build, which means it is subject to special planning assessments aimed at fast-tracking construction.

But Mr Riordan said he feared the community engagement would present the new housing development as a foregone conclusion.

“The community has now just been told this is happening and they will be intensely informed about it happening, but there’s no opportunity, at this stage, for anyone to do anything about it.”

Surf Coast Shire is the worst-provisioned areas in Victoria for public housing.

Latest Victorian Housing Register data to March indicated that 663 households in the Anglesea District, which includes Torquay, are on a waiting list for social housing properties – and that just 67 such properties exist.

“I support the concept of these types of facilities,” Mr Riordan said. “Surf Coast Shire is one of the most poorly resourced communities for this sort of subsidised living, so that’s that is an important issue.

“However, operators of these services and government also have an obligation to work with existing residents to make sure it’s appropriate.”

Mr Riordan, who is also the Shadow Housing Minister, suggested a site near the proposed community hospital at the entrance to Torquay would be more appropriate.

He said he will call on Haven to ensure local concerns are addressed in the finished product.

“Support services like this will succeed and do well in the community when it has community support and it’s getting off to a bad start. It’s a pretty reasonable set of community concerns that will need to be addressed.

“I’ve advocated very firmly to the proponents the Haven Foundation that springing this on people… is not world’s best community consultation.”