Council backs rehab centre
MAREEBA will be home to the Far North’s newest rehabilitation facility after the council approved Mission Australia’s application at a meeting on Wednesday.
The approval was granted despite a number of objections from residents to the facility at 3338 Kennedy Highway, Mareeba.
Kathryn Buchgraber said she had lived on a property neighbouring the site for 40 years and that the facility was cause for concern.
“It’s going to be a low security premises and we’re only a kilometre from there. We were told that there’s nothing stopping them (facility residents) from walking out of the facility,” she said.
“It is a school bus drop-off point too, my grandkids get off just before that, but there is (another) school bus drop-off outside the facility.”
Mayor Angela Toppin said initial community concerns were understandable but that the facility was a welcomed addition to the shire.
“I have seen these centres in CBDs and throughout in my time, and they have worked very well … Residents probably justifiably feel a little bit concerned but we have to have trust in the organisation,” she said.
“Mission Australia efficiently runs these programs in many, many places.
“They have been very successful and I think they will manage it very well.”
She said it was important that Mareeba made provisions and had the capacity to cater to welfare needs within the region.
“We welcome any development and any service because naturally in our own shire we have people who will require rehabilitation and it’s probably easier for them to be rehabilitated within this shire than to have to travel to Cairns or Townsville.”
Cr Toppin said the council had addressed residents’ concerns and conditioned the approval appropriately.
Conditions of the approved facility include that staff must be present on site 24 hours a day, that neighbouring property owners have access to the direct phone number of facility staff, and that landscaping surrounding the facility must be at least three metres high.
Mission Australia also responded to concerns, stating that participation in the facility’s program was voluntary, that facility residents would be monitored at all times, and that they would be removed if they breached regulations.