Athlone not the right site for TIMP support service

Thank you to all, for your fabulous support over the year.

A proposal to use the former Athlone Primary School site for The Ice Meltdown Project support service has been refused by Baw Baw Shire Council.

But, council has resolved to work with TIMP to find an alternative location to enable the project to continue.

TIMP put forward a proposal to use the site, currently owned by the Education Department, to establish a drug addiction education and support centre.

More than 200 people objected to the proposal.

The Ice Meltdown Project is a non-government community based organisation. The group proposed to use the former Athlone school site as an education centre to upskill people who have committed themselves to being drug free.

It was proposed the centre would cater for six to eight clients at any one time with three to five staff members, on weekdays only.

Council officers recommended the application for refusal because of the site’s isolated site and the proposed use was contrary to state and local planning policies.

Officers said there were insufficient details demonstrating the use could be appropriately managed without impacting on the amenity of the surrounding area.

Councillors, while supporting the TIMP program and what it set out to achieve, unanimously agreed to refuse the application.

An alternative motion put forward by Crs Peter Kostos and Michael Leaney called for further council to work with TIMP to find a suitable location.

Cr Kostos said the Athlone school was not the right building. “Yes it can be improved but it’s also been deemed not appropriate by the community.”

He said it was important to get this moving as quick as possible and find an alternative site for the TIMP support centre.

Cr Kostos said TIMP had the support of local police.

He said while the Athlone community expressed a lot of passion in their objections, his reason for refusal was the applicants did not meet the required conditions.

Cr Leaney said council could not let the work of TIMP stop.

“The planning permit hasn’t gone through but the problem won’t go away. Council has an opportunity to facilitate and support the community and ensure TIMP gets a home.

“We need to do something about ice, drug addiction and people being rehabilitated but this is not the place,” he said.

Cr Danny Goss said the group needed to outline its strategic plan and goals a bit better.

“The passion is there and if they can get one life back on track they’ve done a wonderful job,” he said.

Cr Goss said the submitters presented some very moving and sad stories, but also very uplifting about TIMP’s success.

“If I was living in that area I would feel the same way. It’s very isolated,” he said.

Cr Jessica O’Donnell commended TIMP volunteers for their tireless work.

But, she said council had to make a decision on whether the Athlone site was appropriate.

She said it came down to an element of risk. “To put volunteers, members of the community at risk without a risk framework does not make me feel comfortable.

“I understand they need somewhere to go but Athlone is not the place,” she said.

Cr Keith Cook said it was very important to have the community’s support and that hadn’t happened in Athlone.

A number of motorcars were targeted by thieves in the Willow Grove area overnight on December 11.

Offenders were disturbed while breaking into a car in Blue Rock Rd.

The owner of the car noticed two cars in his driveway. One was a dark coloured sedan while the other was a white Nissan X Trail.

A UHF radio valued at $400 was stolen from the resident’s car.

Two cars in Willow Grove Rd were broken into and rummaged through. A handbag was stolen from one car while another car had nothing stolen.

Anyone who saw people acting suspiciously in the area should contact Warragul Police. He said it was the “fear of the unknown” for Athlone residents. But, he said it was very important the work of TIMP continued. Community submissions – p13