OUTRAGED Casuarina residents do not want a Department of Child Protection youth home dumped in their neighbourhood.
The Department purchased a property in Lavery Drive adding to two already operating in Kwinana in Homestead Ridge and a rental on Thomas Road in Casuarina.
A spokesman for the Department said the home was purchased for between $890,000 and $940,000 and would house up to four children in short stay accommodation for up to three months.
Casuarina Wellard Progress Association President Danny Mitchell said residents were outraged that the home was going to open in Lavery Drive metres from neighbouring homes.
“They are dumping it here with disregard for the community, we don’t want it here,” he said.
“There is nothing at all out here for these kids, no public transport, no employment, nothing for them to do whatsoever.”
Mr Mitchell was frustrated the Department had not informed residents about the home at any stage.
“If they did inform the neighbours and didn’t try to hide it, people could plan security upgrades – they just snuck in under the radar,” he said.
Mr Mitchell said residents were concerned with Homestead Ridge resident’s claims of vandalism, drug taking and anti-social behaviour at the rental property in that suburb.
“These semi-rural properties are vulnerable, our fences are open and lots of men work away leaving mothers and children home along, in secluded blocks near this home,” he said.
One Lavery Drive resident said their property would lose value and because of the semi-rural blocks would be vulnerable to theft, vandalism and trespass.
“We already have Casuarina Prison and Palmerston drug and rehabilitation centre, we are fighting two sand mines, what else are they going to out in here,” the resident said.
In December, Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams met with Child Protection Minister Robyn McSweeney and said at the time she was given an, “undertaking by the Minister that no more (homes) will be considered in Kwinana.”
Cr Adams said she had spoken to the Department this week who said there would only be two homes in Kwinana because the Thomas Road property was a rental and would be vacated once the lease expired.
“The lease does not have an expiration date, so as far as I am concerned we have three homes, I am writing to the Minister to tell her the young people should not be placed at the Casuarina property until the Thomas Road rental expires,” she said.
The Department spokesman said he understood there might be some community anxiety and they would respond to any concerns raised by residents.
He said the department had recently started informing neighbours and local stakeholders about the home and had committed a community liaison officer for the area.
“These properties are carefully chosen and staff and residents will make every effort to be good neighbours and become a positive part of the community,” he said.