A spokesperson for Victorian planning minister, Sonya Kilkenny released a statement to Neos Kosmos today over Yarra City Council’s Planning Decisions Committee approval for the development of a ‘sub-acute’ mental health facility next to the Greek Community’s Alphington Grammar school.

In response to questions posed by Neos Kosmos the minister’s spokesperson stated that the permit approval “is a local planning matter and therefore the responsibility of the Yarra City Council.”

“At its February 28 meeting, Yarra City Council resolved to issue a Notice of Decision to grant a planning permit for land at 9-11 Heidelberg Road, Alphington for the use of the land as a sub-acute hospital facility. The decision is subject to conditions,” the statement said.

“The proposal converts existing buildings previously used as a retirement village into a sub-acute health facility (mild to moderate disorders) which provides services for general psychiatric (anxiety, depression, mood disorders) as well as trauma and stress related disorders (such as PTSD).

“As the council has determined to issue a Notice of Decision there is now a period of 28 days in which an objector can appeal council’s decision to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

“If no appeal is lodged, a planning permit will then be issued,” the statement concluded.

Over 200 objections have been received to the development of the facility. And The Age reported that at last night’s Council’s Planning Decision Committee meeting there was “standing room only in Richmond Town Hall.”

Many parents and Alphington Grammar students “still in school uniform” watched the proceedings where 12 submissions were made on the night, extending discussion on the matter to over an hour.

According to The Age report parents spoke against the proposal, including James Baker, who asked councillors why child safety was not considered “top of the list” in the planning application.

“You considered smoking and you considered bicycle access … So why would you not engage child safety experts and psychologists to provide you all with an educated decision in relation to this?”

The hospital will be run by commercial provider Healthe Care, whose owner, Australian Unity, bought the Alphington site for $14.75 million in December. It plans to spend another $34 million repurposing the former aged care home into a sub-acute facility with 32 beds.

The Age reported that at Tuesday night’s meeting, Alphington Grammar School principal Dr. Vivianne Nikou argued the facility had proposed inadequate reporting mechanisms if safety issues cropped up.

Dr Nikou said that sub-acute patients “can turn into acute patients very swiftly.” “Students in primary school particularly are at a highly impressionable age, and interactions with strangers can be very detrimental to their own psychological development.”

As reported earlier Neos Kosmos sought comment from Dr Nikou and the Yarra City Council.

A spokesperson from the Council wrote to Neos Kosmos, “Last night, Yarra City Council’s Planning Decision Committee approved an application relating to the redevelopment of a site located at Old Heidelberg Road in Alphington. The application was consistent with the relevant planning policy framework and the Yarra Planning Scheme.””Any further queries on the proposal should be directed to Healthe Care.”

At the time of writing Alphington Grammar had not confirmed if it will be objecting the planning permit within the statutory 28 days.

* Information on on the appeal process to VCAT can be found on the Yarra Council website.