Rehab clinic confusion

Application for wellness retreat

AFFLUENT Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale homeowners have launched a campaign to stop a drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic from opening nearby, because it may impact property prices.

However, no plans have been submitted to open a drug and alcohol rehab clinic.

A planning application to repurpose a former Nelson Rd aged-care facility in Queen- scliff into a short stay retreat/ respite centre has caused waves in the well-heeled coastal town.

A planning report for the Bellarine Wellness Retreat describes it as a 24-hour staffed “away from home retreat and respite” centre for individuals and couples — including yoga, swimming, snorkelling and day trips.

Despite the words “drug”, “alcohol” or “rehabilitation” appearing nowhere in the application, Queenscliff residents have launched a campaign to block the Bellarine Wellness Centre.

A letter titled ‘Drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre near you’ was dropped in letterboxes earlier this month, calling on residents to submit objections to council to block the wellness centre.

“Fancy having a drug/alcohol rehab centre in your immediate neighbourhood? It could be about to happen unless you do something quickly,” the letter reads.

“The proposed clinic would not be treating locals with addiction problems but is targeting addicts from Melbourne to come to Queenscliff! This being done for profit at our expense!

“This is likely to have an immediate and sustained impact on property values!”

Another letter, allegedly from Queenscliff resident Peter Robertson, urged locals to submit objections, questioning the specifics of the proposed wellness centre, and describing the neighbourhood as “harmonious” and “safe”.

A Facebook event titled ‘Stop the Drug and Alcohol Rehab in Pt Lonsdale’ was also launched by Jenny Cooper.

Bellarine Wellness Retreat was registered as a business name in September last year, with David Forbes listed as an organisational representative.

Mr Forbes is also the director of Habitat Therapeutics, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation company. Mr Forbes declined to speak with the Geelong Advertiser yesterday.

It is understood the retreat will cater for a range of guests, which may include some recovering from addiction.

The objections have been raised less than a year after Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association statistics showed Geelong had notched up more drug deaths than any other part of regional Victoria.

Figures showed the region lost 130 people to overdose between 2009-2016, the highest figure outside of metropolitan Melbourne.