New twist in retreat battle
A CAMPAIGN to stop a wellness retreat from opening on The Bellarine — amid rumours it could be a drug and alcohol rehab clinic — has deceptively misused a Queenscliff council logo on new flyers.
The flyers are the latest in a series of attempts to claim a planning permit for the “Bellarine Wellness Retreat” will be a rehab clinic, despite the words “drug”, “alcohol” or “rehabilitation” appearing nowhere in the application.
The Borough of Queenscliffe has voiced concerns over the use of its logo on a pair of flyers that were posted around Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff this week, appearing to oppose the planned centre.
One of the flyers features an image of a man with dreadlocks, wearing a tie-dye shirt and smoking what appears to be a joint, with the words “Coming soon! To a home near you”. The image is accompanied by the borough’s logo.
Another flyer distributed on The Bellarine reportedly features a cartoon of a man burning a joint on the back of an elderly person.
Queenscliff Mayor Susan Salter said the logo had been deceptively misused on the flyers.
“Council is very disappointed by this unauthorised misuse of the council logo,” Cr Salter said.
The planning application to repurpose a former Nelson Rd aged-care facility in Queenscliff to a short-stay retreat/ respite centre sparked the campaign in the affluent coastal town.
A planning report for the Bellarine Wellness Retreat describes it as a 24-hour staffed “away from home retreat and respite” centre for individuals and couples — including yoga, swimming, snorkelling and day trips.
Toorak resident Michelle Gardiner distributed 100 letters to Queenscliff residents on behalf of her 82-year-old father, urging them to oppose the planning application.
Ms Gardiner said that her father had heard the centre would be a drug and alcohol rehab clinic “from someone on the street — the rumour mill”.
Ms Gardiner said she was concerned there was a possibility “drug addicts”, “criminal activity” and “drug dealers” would cause a risk to public safety in the area.
Bellarine Wellness Retreat was registered as a business name in September last year, with David Forbes listed as an organisational representative.
Mr Forbes is also the director of Habitat Therapeutics, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation company. He declined to speak to the Geelong Advertiser.