By KATH GANNAWAY
FOI request reveals police are unhappy with facility management…
Police have raised concerns over student management and behaviour at the Narconon facility in East Warburton.
A submission from Warburton Police to the Yarra Ranges Council has now led to a FOI request from opposition group SayNoNarcanon.
In a second submission to the council’s planning department regarding the controversial proposal to move Narconon drug rehabilitation facility from East Warburton to Warburton township, the officer in charge at Warburton police station, Sergeant Tom Wilkinson commented on information prepared by town planners Millar Merrigan which he said was helpful in providing an overview but raised some concerns.
“I was concerned that some material regarding student management and behaviour was not consistent with information held within my professional capacity,” Sgt Wilkinson wrote in the submission dated 4 November.
He continued that while he was subject to privacy rules, information could be sought by anyone through a formal FOI request to Victoria Police.
SayNoNarconon members say they believe the information Sgt Wilkinson alluded to should be available to the public.
Spokesperson Paul Jackson called on the council to make an FOI application, which the council has declined to do.
“I think that with a matter as important as this the council should be seeking every avenue of information to ensure that they are making informed decisions,” he said.
“We are disappointed that they appear to not want to do that.”
Yarra Ranges Director of Planning, Building and Health Andrew Paxton however had advised the Mail that the planning process does not allow the council to pursue information through an FOI application, but said residents are entitled to submit their own if they wish.
“Any issues highlighted by objectors that have not been addressed properly by the applicant will be addressed through the decision making process,” he said.
Mr Jackson confirmed that SayNoNarconon had made an application but said it could be 45 days before they have the information they are seeking and as of Monday afternoon had no information as to whether the matter would go before the council meeting of 10 December.
In his initial report, dated 29 August, Sgt Wilkinson said the increase in clients from 30 to 80 presented a number of new challenges and concerns with respect to client management and potential risks to the community, which he said were not discussed in the application and were needed for an assessment.
He said areas that needed further discussion included client freedom within the facility, behavioural issues, new risks associated with the venue type, location and client security management, client vulnerability and the role and responsibilities of night security.
Sgt Wilkinson told the Mail on Monday that he had submitted the reports in response to a request by the council to identify some public concerns.
“It’s not my capacity to make comment in respect of whether it (Narconon) should or shouldn’t be relocated.
“I have raised some areas for discussion that could be of concern in respect to public safety,” he said.
“I remain impartial on this matter, and take the view it’s for the governing bodies to make an assessment in respect of the application.”
Narconon spokesperson Dr Nerida James said her organisation would be happy to speak with Sgt Wilkinson to discuss safety and security measures that it has taken and to get his input and resolve any questions to his satisfaction.
“In a very recent phone conversation the sergeant he was unaware that we had hired a professional security team, employed seven days a week,” she said.
She said she did not think it was appropriate to comment any further until they had met with Sgt Wilkinson.
“We are doing everything possible in this regard,” she said.
Mr Jackson said his group was also frustrated that they had not heard as of Monday afternoon as to whether the matter would go to council on 10 December.
“This recommendation is coming at the earliest one week and one day beforehand,” he said which could affect people’s ability to respond effectively.
