REDLANDS MP Matt McEachan says he will do whatever he can to close down a rehabilitation facility that has nearby residents fearing for their safety.
Speaking at a forum in Victoria Point last week, residents of Woodlands Drive in Thornlands said they had seen a woman beaten up and people fighting at the facility, had heard gunshots coming from the property and their homes had been broken into.
Mr McEachan said he had been asking Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath for about six months for a meeting about the facility known as Breaking Through Transitional Services.
After hearing from residents at the forum, he said he was more determined to meet with Ms D’Ath.
“I will do whatever we can do to impress upon the government that this facility needs to be closed down,” he said.
The forum was attended by Cleveland police station’s officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Janelle Harm and Acting Inspector Steve Hollands, as well as Opposition Justice Minister Ian Walker and Opposition Police Minister Tim Mander.
Senior Sergeant Harm said police regularly attended the facility to conduct bail compliance checks, with many of the residents on bail from the Supreme and District courts.
“Most of them (residents at the facility) have as a (bail) condition that they must attend Breaking Through and complete the program,” she said.
Senior Sergeant Harm said there were no requirements for a rehabilitation facility and the charity was run by a committee that answered to no government department.
Redland City Bulletin contacted Breaking Through director Yvonne Murray for comment, but a response had not been received at the time of going to press.
A statement from Breaking Through filed with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission stated the charity worked with clients in their recovery and abstinence of illicit substance and alcohol abuse and reduction of recidivism and provided emotional stability during the six month program.
Woodlands Drive resident Barry Eldridge said he found a man – confirmed by police to reside at Breaking Through at the time – asleep in his house in September.
Mr Eldridge said he later found a combination knife and hammer, fish stunner and tomahawk, taken from his tool bag, near to where the man had been sleeping.
