Dormitory home concerns residents
FAMILIES in a new, largely up-market housing estate on the southern Tweed Coast are alarmed the NSW Government is planning a ‘group' dormitory home in their midst that could house criminals and people with a history of criminal sexual behaviour.
The residents are hoping to meet with departmental officials to discuss their concerns at the site in Kellehers Road in the Black Rocks Estate at Pottsville tomorrow afternoon.
They have also voiced their concerns to Tweed Mayor Warren Polglase, state MP for Tweed Geoff Provest and federal MP for Richmond, Minister for Ageing Justine Elliot.
“This estate is majority young families,” said local resident Bernadette Beattie. “On speaking to the department, the concerns that greatly affect the residents are that no one could guarantee the house would not accommodate house persons with a previous criminal history or sexual behaviour history.”
Ms Beattie said the NSW Department of Human Services had asked the council to lift a restriction on the normal residential use of the block of land but the council had replied that the department would need to provide evidence and the results of public consultation.
Council planning rules require that every lot in that subdivision, except those with approval for a duplex, should be used for “a single dwelling house”.
