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From: Robbie.Bates@p1.f381.n634.z3.fidonet.org (Robbie Bates)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: Australian AIDS News
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Date: 22 Jul 90 18:41:20 GMT
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Note:	Copyright 1990 by Daniel R. Greening.  Permission granted for
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Archive-number: 2289

DAY CARE CENTRE BLOCKED BY COUNCIL

Melbourne, Australia, 13 July 1990 (MSO)

A July 3 meeting of Caufield Council rejected a planning application for
a day care centre for people with AIDS which had been submitted for a
house in Dandenong Road Caufield by the People Living With AIDS (PLWA)
working group of the Victorian AIDS Council.

PLWA is now considering whether to appeal the Council's decision to the
Administrative Appeals Tribunal or to begin again the search for a
suitable site.

Conceding the need for such a centre, the Council cited town planning
issues alone - parking, traffic flow and noise - as reasons for the
rejection.

The July 3 meeting was packed with spectators, many of whom were part of
a vocal and well-organised campaign by a residents' action group against
the Dandenong Road site.

A leaflet earlier distributed by the group had claimed the proposed
centre would reduce property values, lead to increased risk of needle
injuries, attract "undesirables" to the area and increase the incidence
of burgulary and theft.

Dean Michaels of PLWA told MSO that he was not surprised by the
Council's decision and that he thought planning issues had less to do
with the councilors' speeches than the forthcoming Council elections.

The proposal included provision for nine car parking spaces on site, the
use of a minibus for transport, the blockage of a rear laneway access,
additional fencing to be built and opening hours of 9am to 10pm when
fully operational.

Both Caufield Council and ALP Federal Member for Melbourne Ports, Clyde
Holding, who opposed the Dandenong Road site, have promised PLWA they
will assist in finding an alternative location.

"I was surprised that the Council took it on-board to help us find a new
property," said Michaels, "and it was encouraging that there were
residents at the meeting with whom we'd had no prior contact who came
out publicly in support of the centre."

PLWA has rejected Holding's offer to chair a committee to search for a
new property, but he is likely to be invited onto such a committee
planned by PLWA should it decide against an appeal.

PLWA hopes the committee would also include State Health Minister
Caroline Hogg, a representative of the Caufield residents' action group
and the Councils of Caufield, Prahran, St Kilda and South Melbourne -
areas in which PLWA believes the centre would be best located.

Barbara Foggerty of PLWA said that the group's legal advice was that an
appeal could "quite possibly" be successful, but that there would be a
"considerable cost" and a six month delay involved.

"The steering committee of PLWA will decide whether an appeal is a wise
use of our resources or whether we should start again from scratch," she
said.

Until a permanent site is found, PLWA is to operate a one-day-a-week day
care centre every Thursday from August 2 at a location in South
Melbourne. Between 10.30am and 3.30pm, people with AIDS will have access
to activities and a midday meal. Transport can be arranged. Inquiries to
Dean or Barbara on 417 1759.

[ (C) 1990 Oz Media Ltd. Melbourne Australia. Used By Permission ]

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