Women’s rehab facility vote

City Hall to call on Planning Minister for help

GEELONG council is set to call on the state’s Planning Minister to help make a decision on the city’s first femaleonly drug and alcohol rehabilitation clinic.

Councillors will tonight vote on a recommendation to refer submissions relating to the project to the minister, so he can appoint an independent panel to consider the feedback before making a recommendation.

The City of Greater Geelong last year called for community feedback on a planning scheme amendment, which will allow not-for-profit organisation Foundation 61 to build a $2.2 million Community Care Accommodation facility in Mount Duneed.

The facility is set to accommodate eight residents and include facilities for patients with children, with Foundation 61 signalling residents would only leave the site under supervision.

The city’s proposed planning scheme amendment received 38 public submissions, of which 31 objected to the move and five supported it.

Nearly all objecting submissions claimed the site was an inappropriate location for the facility, while 27 expressed concern for the safety of residents and users of the Mount Duneed Recreation Reserve.

The city also received a 130signature petition in December opposing the planning scheme amendment, noting the facility “could attract an undesirable element inhibiting the enjoyment of the reserve by the general public”.

Foundation 61 program director Rob Lytzki last year urged the community to understand the need for the facility.

“These are our sisters, mothers and daughters — the daughters of Geelong is how I look at them,” Mr Lytzki said.

“Some of them might not make it, depending on how long this takes. I think some people need to understand that.”

The Federal Government gave Foundation 61 $1.5 million for the project in 2016, with Mr Lytzki signalling about $700,000 more would be needed.

A planning scheme amendment is also needed for the construction of the centre, as a community care accommodation facility is prohibited under the area’s current farming zone.