Riordan warns of traffic issues at care facility

THERE is still some community concern about a proposal to create a 12-bed mental health care facility on a site in Torquay North, and Polwarth MP Richard Riordan says the resulting issues may force the Surf Coast Shire to intervene.

On Tuesday this week, Mr Riordan met with nearly 20 residents who live near 26 Silvereye Street, which has been purchased by Mind Australia and The Haven Foundation to create a two-storey, 12-unit residence.

Located directly across from Torquay Coast Primary School, the facility will be long-term housing for people living with mental health and wellbeing challenges and have 24/7 support.

As the project has backing from the Victorian government’s Big Housing Build, it can be fast-tracked and does not need planning approval from the local statutory authority (in this case, the Surf Coast Shire).

Some residents on Tuesday said they had heard construction was expected to start by the end of the year to meet grant conditions.

Mr Riordan’s office started a petition – which had at least 237 signatures when it closed on Monday this week – urging the state government to find a better site, stating the facility’s location and design did not provide adequate safe outdoor space for residents, had inadequate off-street parking, and was in “significant conflict” with the Section 173 agreement that all homeowners in the Stretton estate agreed upon.

Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Riordan said two Surf Coast Shire councillors had expressed support for the petition and were worried about the precedent such a development would set.

“The shire is out batting big time for more accommodation under the government’s various programs, and this won’t be the only site that will be overdeveloped this way.

“We do need more housing for people, there’s no doubt about that, but we’ve got to do it well, because the biggest challenge you have in providing this kind of accommodation is that you’ve got to ultimately have community support.”

He said the Silvereye Street development should not be compared to a similar facility in Highton as that had off-street parking and much more outdoor space.

“That whole other side of the street [at the site] is no parking… it’s a pretty packed space. If only half of the residents drive, that’s another six cars here.”

The Surf Coast Shire had been working with the proponent on the site, Mr Riordan said, so had an obligation to help.

“I don’t think you need to be Einstein to realise that street parking and access alone is instantly going to be a council problem that they’re going to have to deal with.

“At the very least, the compromise on it is to scale the project back.”

Residents at Tuesday’s meeting expressed concerns that the facility was poorly located, and its residents would not have any access to public transport or facilities, and would loiter outside smoking.