Residents in Leura have mounted a vigorous campaign to stop a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre from moving into the Nunnery on East View Avenue claiming it could bring a cavalcade of problems into the area.

Citing increases in crime, decreasing property values, safety and a lack of privacy and client supervision as prime concerns, the residents are refusing to accept promises from applicant West Mount Cooperative Society that the centre's presence would not be felt.

The action group has launched a series of petitions objecting to the application, which is due to be decided at council later this year, and will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. tomorrow night at Pitcaple to brief residents on the proposal.

As owners of the former guest house, West Mount plans to move their rehabilitation program from Waratah Street, Katoomba - where they have been for the past 20 years - to the Leura site which would provide treatment for up to 14 post-detox clients. The majority of clients using West Mount are recovering heroin addicts (60 percent) while others have had problems with amphetamines, cannabis and alcohol.

A major concern to locals is that many of West Mount's clients have been convicted for criminal offences. But West Mount manager Anne Sacco said it was unlikely clients would commit crime where they are `known and can be traced'. She maintained most crimes were committed to `get drugs' and that when clients stopped using, they also stopped crime.

`Places like this have to go somewhere and I sympathise with the neighbours. But in the 20 years that we have been in Katoomba, we have not had a complaint about us, except a few minor problems with noise which have always been dealt with quickly. Often people don't even know we are here. We certainly have no record of wild parties, day or night,' Ms Sacco told the Gazette.

`Many of our clients have been criminals. The majority of these people however only commit crime to get drugs. When they stop using drugs, they stop committing crime. If these clients do start using drugs again, they are likely to start doing crime again. However, they are unlikely to commit such a crime where they are known and can be traced.'

Responding to concern over supervision, Ms Sacco said clients were left unsupervised from 12 midnight to 8.30 am but that a senior resident was always left in charge with a staff member remaining on-call. Senior residents include those who have been on the program for at least three weeks and who have proven their commitment to rehabilitation. Yet despite the reassurances and West Mount's promise to put up fencing to alleviate privacy concerns, residents from areas including Mount and Highland Streets, Strathearn and Kings Roads and East View Avenue remain unconvinced.

East View Avenue resident Hunter Corday, who recently moved from Kings Cross to Leura to `get away from the hell of heroin', told the Gazette he was deeply concerned for his family's welfare and safety.

`Our life in Kings Cross was destroyed by heroin despite living in a high security apartment and I don't think West Mount's word is good enough for my family's protection.' Mr Corday told the Gazette.

`We moved to Leura to get away from the psychology of heroin, not just from the people who take it but from the dealers on the street. I have young children and I don't want to come home and find someone on my property. I am absolutely petrified about this.'

Resident Sandra Turner told the Gazette that if the proposal went ahead, she and her family would move from the street. Concerned about theft and the impact to her family and small business, Mrs Turner said the plan was `completely unsuited' to the area.

`We are concerned that the people who use this facility will set a bad example to our children,' Mrs Turner said.

Residents are also concerned about a loss of property value. Nils Turner from Century 21 Leura said that if the plan went ahead, properties within a one to two kilometre radius could lose up to 20 percent of their value.

However, Janeen Reid, who operates a childcare centre on East View Avenue, said she was unconcerned about the impact of the program, providing clients were well supervised.

`I am reserving judgement until I hear more but I'm not too concerned. As far as childcare goes, I have the kids in the house or in a secure backyard,' she said.

`I think drug and alcohol rehabilitation is a great idea. My only concern is that I have heard that this will be a place where people go as an alternative to gaol and that the supervision is limited. If this is the case then that could be a worry because the people won't be there because they want to be but because they have to be.'

A reply . . .

Show Compassion
Blue Mountains Gazette, 13/9/00 Tony Trimingham

I am very sad to note from your article that residents are blocking the move by Westmount Cooperative to open a 14-bed posts-detox rehabilitation centre in Leura.

Whilst I can understand the fear that these residents have about heroin in their community, I sincerely hope they will avail themselves of expert information and allow the centre to open.

This is a treatment centre offering hope to voluntary patients affected by alcohol and drugs - the problems of which are a sad fact of life.

Drugs are available everywhere - calls to our hotline come from families in Leura just as well as all other communities.

There is absolutely no evidence that `rehabilitation centres attract crime and drug dealers'.

Only those affected can really understand but I plead with all Leura residents, including those pictured with their children in your article, to show compassion and understanding.

One lady is quoted as saying `the people who use this facility will set a bad example to our children'. I would have thought that if ever her children get involved with drugs, the first thing she would want would be for them to seek help.

To those mounting this campaign, I say, `What if it happens in your family?'

I would hope that the Blue Mountains has a compassionate community that accepts those with problems and tries to assist them rather than turning them away as outcasts.