The Meander Valley Council could rescind a motion passed at the June council meeting, to offer the Meander Primary School site to global Christian organisation Teen Challenge to establish a rehabilitation centre.
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During the meeting the council voted 5-4 to formally accept ownership of the school site from the state government, and to subsequently endorse Teen Challenge as the preferred tenant, subject to a detailed lease agreement.
In an agenda item for the July 12 meeting to consider rescinding the decision, Councillor Deb White said the process was seen as lacking in transparency by some of the Meander community for two reasons.
No risk assessment concerning the security of the site, the amenity of Meander residents, and the impact on future licensed events taking place in the Meander Hall, has been carried out.
- Councillor Deb White
“The inclusion of late motions submitted one working day before the meeting did not allow for adequate discussion of the survey results and council’s preferred course of action,” she said.
“[And] no risk assessment concerning the security of the site, the amenity of Meander residents, and the impact on future licensed events taking place in the Meander Hall, has been carried out.”
General manager Greg Preece noted in the motion that since the last meeting council officers have met with the council’s solicitor to prepare a draft lease.
Additionally, Teen Challenge was given access to the site to allow a preliminary assessment of the buildings and had sought planning advice from council officers.
Mrs Kerin Booth from Legana has submitted 20 questions on notice to the council regarding the Meander school site.
The questions focus on numerous community issues arising from the original decision, including surrounding property value, amenity of the area, zoning, and security measures.
But Meander resident Wayne Johnston said a large number of the community supported the original decision and the council should not go backwards.
He said about 80 people attended a community meet and greet on Saturday night.
Unfortunately it’s been classed as a rehabilitation centre and it’s not actually, because the people entering the program have been off drugs for six month prior to coming out and it is only a women and children refuge.
- Meander resident Wayne Johnston
“It was put on by Meander Resource Management Group to invite anybody who wanted to come from the Meander community to come along and chat to the Teen Challenge people,” he said.
“I guess the people who were against the project didn’t come along to find out anything about it.
“Unfortunately it’s been classed as a rehabilitation centre and it’s not actually, because the people entering the program have been off drugs for six month prior to coming out and it is only a women and children refuge.”
