Karralika Action Group (KAG)
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Karralika Consultative Committee History
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Brief History
Over the Christmas holidays in Jan 2004, a handful of residents close to the facility were informed by ACT Health that a “refurbishment” would begin at the site after March 04. When residents began to make inquiries they were told the development was confidential and no public consultation or right of appeal would be possible. Eventually, as residents uncovered more details, it became apparent a major redevelopment was planned, changing a farmhouse-sized facility to a large institution-sized facility. The facility as it now stands consists of: a farmhouse, plus two 6 bed accommodations blocks, and 2 small outbuildings. Approx. 16 - 19 clients sleep there overnight (licenced max of 25) and are bused off-site during the day to attend their rehabilitation program at Isabella Plains. A small childcare facility operates there during the day, with approx. 10 children attending (licenced max of 20). The $5.1 million “refurbishment” consisted of: knocking down all buildings apart from the original farmhouse, building 7 new buildings (2 effectively 3 storeys high), 60-70 beds, a 40 space childcare centre, extensive car and bus parking, and the relocation of the full rehabilitation program from Isabella Plains to Fadden. This would have meant that the program and clients would be on site 24 hours a day, with all the staff, admin, catering, traffic, etc that this entails. A dramatic change of use on the site from the current small discreet facility. To oppose this development and find an alternative solution, residents formed the Karralika Action Group (KAG). KAG conducted research, sent out information flyers to the community, organized letter campaigns to the Minister for Health & Planning (Mr Simon Corbell MLA), spoke to the media, called a public meeting (attended by over 600 people), and lobbied in the Legislative Assembly. After widespread community outcry for genuine community consultation Mr Corbell withdrew the Development Application (DA). He then determined to submit a new DA and use his call-in powers to override the regular process and make the decision himself on whether the development should proceed. This would have invalidated any community consultation and removed any effective right of appeal by the community – again. In Feb 2004, the Karralika issue was debated in the Legislative Assembly. The Macarthur and Fadden community, with the support of the Liberals, Greens, Democrats and Independents, won a substantial victory. A motion was passed condemning the Minister for misusing the confidentiality clause of the Planning Act, directed him to not exercise his call-in powers on this development, and referred the matter to an inquiry of the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment. The Standing Committee produced a report in May 2004, making a number of recommendations to the Government on improvements to the planning and consultation processes. In Sept 2004, as part of the Government’s promised community consultation, Mr Corbell established the Karralika Consultative Committee. Click here for more information about the Karralika Consultative Committee. In June 2005 the Karralika Consultative Committee presented a majority and minority report to Mr Corbell. Both reports recommended the Karralika service be relocated to an appropriate purpose-built site. The majority recommended a secondary option of refurbishment of the Fadden Karralika site; the refurbishment was not to include any increase in building footprint or number of clients. The minority recommended a secondary option of an additional 10 bed expansion, with therapeutic and clinical services to be transferred and included on the Fadden site. In August 2006 Katy Gallagher (the new Health Minister) announced that the proposed redevelopment and expansion of the Fadden Karralika facility would not proceed.
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