BAIL HOUSE SHOCK

Kid crims to be held in city suburbs

YOUTH detention bail houses will be opened in Mundingburra and West End despite community backlash and a lack of consultation with neighbouring properties.

The Bulletin understands a halfway house along Gulliver St has undergone “rapid” renovations over the last few weeks.

The news follows the State Government’s announcement in August that children would be placed in the facilities when they could not go home or had protection orders.

Two supervised bail accommodation fa- cilities will be opened in Townsville for 14 to 17- year- olds. Sources have said the Gulliver St address would be for girls while a facility in Hugh St, West End would be for boys.

It is understood both homes are owned by the State Government.

Townsville Aboriginal and Islanders Health Services has also started advertising for case workers for the facilities.

A spokeswoman for Attorney- General Yvette D’Ath did not deny the Gulliver St address but said it would not be released publicly.

Robyn McLean, who lives directly behind the property, said there had been no consultation about the facility.

“I rang the council to find out what the process was in changing the purpose of the building. When they looked it up they found out it was owned by Department of Communities,” she said.

“I was then told it was a State Government problem so I rang ( Mundingburra MP) Coralee O’Rourke’s office and then they came back after a few days and said they were in caretaker mode.”

Ms McLean said it had been a halfway house since about 2009 but was gutted.

“How can something like this be allowed without the direct neighbours being advised as they take the full brunt of having the neighbours from hell? This is literally placing the community at high risk of danger without even knowing about it,” she said.

The spokeswoman said the accommodation would be in existing youth justice facilities.

“Supervised bail accommodation will provide 24/ 7 supervision and strict conditions, including curfews,” she said.

“The young people will be required to participate in education and training programs.

“Much as with domestic violence shelters, we do not release the addresses publicly, for the safety of all concerned.”

Cr Maurie Soars said a resident had raised concerns about the Mundingburra facility.

“Everyone is OK until it’s the house behind yours,” Cr Soars said.

“They ( State Government) don’t usually like advertising this. The reason why I haven’t got anything back is they don’t want people to know.”