Hinterland neighbours fight drug rehab unit
Council called on to investigate facility after complaints
Gold Coast Hinterland residents are demanding council block an addiction and mental health rehab facility from being allowed to continue operating, saying they are sick of the disruption to their lives.
The Salt Drug Rehabilitation Centre has been open at Neranwood, west of Mudgeeraba, for a number of years but is only now seeking council approval after being under investigation since 2021.
But numerous submissions lodged by neighbouring residents and businesses call on councillors to reject the application by the centre, which sits on Swanson Place behind Boomerang Farm golf course.
Luke Munro, of nearby wedding venue Kwila Lodge, said the “location of an addiction and rehabilitation facility, with little to no security has immediately raised concerns for the safety” of his staff.
“It is concerning given the proximity of the proposed rehabilitation facility to our venue and the security risk this entails,” he said.
“Safety of staff and property are our primary concerns in regards to the proposed development.
“We do not believe that this has been properly addressed and it is evident from the design of the facility that inadequate consideration has been given in terms of the potential impacts of this facility on surrounding business premises.”
Neighbouring resident Matthew O’Dwyer claimed numerous clients from the centre had trespassed into other homes.
“It was several years ago we had our first stray guest arrive at our property angrily requesting to be checked in to the drug rehabilitation facility and unfortunately this was not the last,” he said.
“These guests are driving themselves either under the influence or in a severely debilitated state in withdrawal to the facility on a street which houses up to 10 children under the age of nine.
“The noise impact assessment (in the centre’s planning report) does not account for the “primal emotive therapy”, aka scream therapy that regularly occurs on the property (and) we would have called police multiple times hearing the screams if we hadn’t been advised prior by another neighbour that this is what they were doing.”
Mr O’Dwyer said the centre did not belong in a rural area.
“While we have no objection to people receiving medical help for their addictions, nor do we have any objection to the building proposal, we do believe that a drug rehab centre is very much out or character for the area, and not in keeping with the intentions of the Rural and Environmental Zone code,” he said.
“As we assume there would be administration of restricted drugs and medicines on the property, medical treatments and emergency situations requiring specialist care, this facility would be more suited to
It was several years ago we had our first stray guest arrive at our property angrily requesting to be checked in to the drug rehabilitation facility ... Matthew O’Dwyer Neranwood resident
be located in a designated medical precinct.”
Salt management was contacted for comment but did not respond by deadline.
However, in its planning report to the council, it argued the five-bedroom facility, which was created in a pre-existing residential house, was appropriate.
“The proposed development maintains a high level of amenity both for guests and employees on site, as well as those viewing the site from the road where the site is screened by natural vegetation.”
Area councillor Glenn Tozer said planning staff would carefully consider the submissions.
“There has been an application received and it needs to go through a proper assessment process to ensure the amenity of the area is retained and the economic and social needs can be properly assessed and scrutinised,” he said.