KEEP OUT OF OUR SUBURB

Freshwater residents fight bus-in plan for indigenous mums

CLAIMS of suburb snobbery have emerged over attempts by Freshwater residents to shift a program reuniting mothers with children in foster care to a suburb with a higher indigenous population.

Neighbours have railed against UnitingCare’s plan to launch the Newpin program from its Vallely St facility and have called a meeting to voice their opposition.

A summary document from the forum stated: “The main client group for the program, at-risk Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their children, do not live in Freshwater or any of the surrounding suburbs, so there are no A&TSI communities/people to offer support for this client group.”

Barron River MP Craig Crawford said a “racial undercurrent” may be at play.

A NEIGHBOURHOOD rift has formed at Freshwater over indigenous mothers being bussed in to learn parenting skills required to get their children out of foster care.

Nearby residents have decried UnitingCare Queensland’s plan to launch its Newpin reunification program at its Vallely St facility, arguing it was more suited to one of the “M suburbs”: Manoora, Manunda or Mooroobool.

The commentary earned a rebuke from Barron River MP Craig Crawford, who warned residents they walked a fine line between genuine concern and discrimination.

Minutes from a meeting with UnitingCare and neighbours on July 25, chaired by Division 6 Cairns Regional Councillor Linda Cooper, record one community member highlighting “that there are no ATSIC (sic) people living in the local area so why this location for a service focused on assisting ATSIC (sic) clients”.

Concerns were raised about potential “issues associated with conflict amongst family groups”, traffic, noise and the threat of domestic violence breaking out in the street.

“I’m happy for everyone to have their say on the matter but people need to be very cautious about turning this into a racial discrimination issue,” Mr Crawford said.

UnitingCare has owned the site for more than 30 years. One neighbour recalled it was once used as a foster home for high-risk children who “tried to burn down the church and the Freshwater Pony Club and some took knives to school and one child (was) ‘hog tied’ in the front yard”, according to the meeting minutes.

Cr Cooper said the opposition came down to a lack of communication from the State Government.

“There was no consultation in the first instance,” she said.

“I think they just felt they were being ignored.”

A UnitingCare spokeswoman said the group was committed to being a good neighbour.

“It is disappointing that program participants are potentially being prejudiced inappropriately and not in the interest of community inclusion,” she said.

The Stratford and Freshwater Community Association scheduled a meeting about the issue last night.