Warragul & Drouin Gazette

Community frustrated at lack of informatio­n

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by Emma Ballingall The Athlone community has been left stressed and frustrated in its fight for informatio­n about The Ice Meltdown Project’s plans to utilise the former Athlone Primary School site as its new base.

The not-for-profit organisati­on lodged a planning applicatio­n in December to utilise the now closed school site for additional recovery programs.

The Athlone community has held several community meetings attracting more than 100 people while spokespers­on Lori Giles believes some 200 objections have been lodged with Baw Baw Shire.

“We have a right to ask questions about something proposing to come into the heart of our community…and we would like the respect of being told what’s going on,” said Ms Giles.

“It’s got nothing to do with addiction,” she emphasised. “It’s got everything to do with keeping the community safe, clients safe, and volunteers running it safe. Until we know that, we have to object.”

The Ice Meltdown Project (TIMP) director Janice Ablett urged members of the Athlone community with questions to give her a call.

Ms Ablett said TIMP had held a community meeting in Drouin during March of which Athlone residents were invited to attend and ask questions. She will not be attending Athlone meetings or speaking with Ms Giles due to concerns the issue was getting out of hand, but is open to mediation via Baw Baw Shire.

“I just want to reassure the people that it’s a good program,” said Ms Ablett. “We’re worried about what they think and we’re willing to answer their questions. It’s just got out of hand with the person that’s running it.”

Ms Giles said residents attending the TIMP meeting needed time to process informatio­n before asking questions. She said the Athlone community had provided a list of 46 questions to TIMP on March 11 but were still awaiting a response.

“The need for answers is causing anxiety and frustratio­n, and we don’t understand why there has to be such secrecy surroundin­g their plans to use our school,” said Ms Giles.

“Everyone is asking these questions and nobody wants to address that. I want to see our questions answered. You need to tell them (the residents) what it’s about. Don’t create a bigger bushfire than what it needs to be.”

Ms Giles said the Athlone community, especially the elderly and local farmers already vulnerable due to low milk prices, were stressed and concerned for their safety.

“This is causing them even more stress and it’s not fair. It’s human nature to ask questions. We’re going to keep making noise, we’ll take it to VCAT if we have to.”

Just a sample of unanswered resident questions include how many people will be on site, qualificat­ions of staff and has a risk assessment been undertaken?

“It comes down to the operation of it,” said Ms Giles. “Who is running these classes? These are vulnerable people.”

Ms Giles said any group going to an isolated site would face similar questions and is concerned TIMP organisers were making up plans as they went along.

Baw Baw Shire planners have sought further informatio­n and already advised the matter would be decided at a council meeting.

Ms Ablett said TIMP would answer all questions put to it by Baw Baw Shire as part of the planning applicatio­n process.

She said plans to utilise the vacant Athlone school site started in August last year.

Ms Ablett believes Athlone would provide a home base for TIMP staff and equipment as well as classes to reeducate participan­ts on life skills to help get back out into the work force.

“At the moment, we have about 40 clients and it’s getting bigger and bigger day by day,” said Ms Ablett. “And we just have nowhere for these people to go.”

She said all participan­ts at Athlone would have completed the detox program and be eight weeks clean.

“At eight weeks clean, they are back as normal healthy human beings,” said Ms Ablett. “They are not any danger to anybody. We test them every week.”

She said a lot of the participan­ts are hurting and traumatise­d from past family violence abuse and would benefit from classes offered 9am to 4pm in horticultu­re, cooking, personal hygiene, physical education, communicat­ion and other living skills.

All group therapy sessions would remain in Drouin, she added.

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