RECENT public consultations over the proposed rehabilitation centre in Raceview do not seem to have made the issue much clearer.
The alcohol and other drugs (AOD) withdrawal and rehabilitation service was originally planned for Goodna but that site did not go ahead. Now the residential centre will be at 47-57 Wildey St, Raceview. It will accommodate up to 36 adults with up to 10 in its withdrawal unit. Despite some locals’ understandable fears, there is no plan for a dropin service.
The centre will not be run by the Department of Health but will be tendered out.
Concerns exist over the Wildey St location, with Mayor Teresa Harding among those opposed.
Mayor Harding said, “I attended the Raceview community meeting in May and share very similar concerns to the more than 100 locals who also attended.
“Raceview is the third location Queensland Health is considering for this facility after pushback from businesses and the community on previous locations.
“From my initial discussions with Queensland Health, it was my understanding the preferred location would be based where the greatest need for this type of facility exists. It would also be supported by health services, public transport and amenities.”
Mayor Harding is clear that there is a need so there’s no question of simply rejecting every possible site.
She said, “I think most people understand that Ipswich needs specialised mental health services to support our community, and a facility of this type does not currently exist in our city.
“However, having an AOD residential treatment service right next to a licensed venue as well as schools and childcare centres is clearly not an ideal situation.”
Mayor Harding said despite claims from the state that it had asked for a submission, the council had not been asked to make one. She said, “I will certainly be putting a submission forward asking Queensland
Health to demonstrate why this is the most suitable location for a facility of this type.”
A DOH spokesperson said, “A comprehensive set of criteria guided the selection of the most suitable site for the centre. These included location in Ipswich, accessibility to service infrastructure, close proximity to a hospital campus with a 24/7 emergency department, and the availability of other health and community services in the vicinity.
“After a thorough evaluation of more than 100 sites across 33 suburbs 47-57 Wildey St emerged as the sole viable location.”
