Asylum seekers may be housed at Inverbrackie (Woodside)

[good ol' red and white]

AdelaideNow website is going gangbusters with this news released today. Lots of comments from all of the usual suspects. Definitely going to be the news topic of the week here in sleepy ol' Adelaide. What's your opinions on this latest development? I can see a number of positives, as well as a few concerns that will develop over the coming months if this objective is carried out.

[saintal]

As somebody who has recently purchased a house in Woodside less than 5 minutes from the proposed centre, I can’t say I’m happy.

I’ve lived in Woodside for about 6 years (formerly rented, and have always lived in the surrounding area) and fear of a stigma now being attached to the small town. Why go and dump 400+ refugees/asylum seekers/illegals in the middle of the beautiful and peaceful Adelaide Hills? When people ask me where I live and I tell them they often return a blank look. Sadly this will no longer be the case. Why not utilise the existing facilities elsewhere?

The town does not need it. Businesses are in the most part healthy. The main street is a hive of activity on any given day. The supermarket is only small, the Doctor Clinic already requires a significant wait (much easier to go to Mt Barker). The school already has 200 students cramped within a small block, where is the room for another 200? House values will most likely suffer, in what is now considered a very safe town.

If I wanted to live in an over-populated area I would save myself the 70km round trip and move down into the suburbs.

Hills people I find are generally very conservative and will not take fondly to this, especially given the complete lack of respect and consultation that has been given to us. I’m sure that a lot of the people who are delighted about the decision would change their tune if it was stuck under their nose instead.

Our taxes are much better spent elsewhere. Health Services. Schools. Keeping country hospitals open. Local sporting facilities. The homeless. APY Lands (spend a week up there if you ever want an eye opening experience..wow..but that is a whole different debate). This country has enough problems without adding more to the ever growing list.

[Sojourner]

What is interesting is the total lack of any type of community consultation. I have no doubt that there are various councils across Australia that would welcome a centre like this with open arms to actually bolster their communities. Why not put it out to tender where the people will be welcomed instead of superimposing policy on a community without giving the local people an opportunity to be a part of the process???

[A Mum]

Good idea Sojourner.

[Gingernuts]

What is interesting is the total lack of any type of community consultation. I have no doubt that there are various councils across Australia that would welcome a centre like this with open arms to actually bolster their communities. Why not put it out to tender where the people will be welcomed instead of superimposing policy on a community without giving the local people an opportunity to be a part of the process???

I think in this case it was because Inverbrackie is a cheap option for them. They already have an army base there that they are closing / have closed down and so all the facilities are there, they most likely just need some minor conversion work. Establishing a new one anywhere else would cost substantial $$$$.

I agree with you about the lack of consultation though. The state and local govts basically found out about it the same time as we all did, and according to the paper today they will be beginning to ship families there from Christmas Island within 6 - 8 weeks.

I am optimistic that it will end up being quite a positive for the community - but the lack of communication/consultation has been appalling, and will incite community anger and negativity on an already controversial issue that could have been easily avoided.

[Jimmy_041]

Word is Rann had NFI about it

Will he go to the High Court like when they wanted to store U2 here?

[Hazbeen]

What is interesting is the total lack of any type of community consultation. I have no doubt that there are various councils across Australia that would welcome a centre like this with open arms to actually bolster their communities. Why not put it out to tender where the people will be welcomed instead of superimposing policy on a community without giving the local people an opportunity to be a part of the process???

I think in this case it was because Inverbrackie is a cheap option for them. They already have an army base there that they are closing / have closed down and so all the facilities are there, they most likely just need some minor conversion work. Establishing a new one anywhere else would cost substantial $$$$.

I agree with you about the lack of consultation though. The state and local govts basically found out about it the same time as we all did, and according to the paper today they will be beginning to ship families there from Christmas Island within 6 - 8 weeks.

I am optimistic that it will end up being quite a positive for the community - but the lack of communication/consultation has been appalling, and will incite community anger and negativity on an already controversial issue that could have been easily avoided.

They are not closing down the Army base. The Inverbrackie village is a Defence owned housing estate down the road (Woodside to Nairne Rd) from the base and all houses are currently empty as the married soldiers are now living in other Defence owned properties scattered thru the area rather than in 1 spot. The house are all there along with a hall etc so just need doing up a bit, as they are Defence owned (but on public land) they can't just be rented out to the public. At least the cost is lest than building the houses from scratch somewhere else and the influx will benefit all the surrounding towns with Nairne only a few km's up the road.

[A Mum]

What's wrong with Baxter?

[gadj1976]

As somebody who has recently purchased a house in Woodside less than 5 minutes from the proposed centre, I can’t say I’m happy.

I’ve lived in Woodside for about 6 years (formerly rented, and have always lived in the surrounding area) and fear of a stigma now being attached to the small town. Why go and dump 400+ refugees/asylum seekers/illegals in the middle of the beautiful and peaceful Adelaide Hills? When people ask me where I live and I tell them they often return a blank look. Sadly this will no longer be the case. Why not utilise the existing facilities elsewhere?

The town does not need it. Businesses are in the most part healthy. The main street is a hive of activity on any given day. The supermarket is only small, the Doctor Clinic already requires a significant wait (much easier to go to Mt Barker). The school already has 200 students cramped within a small block, where is the room for another 200? House values will most likely suffer, in what is now considered a very safe town.

If I wanted to live in an over-populated area I would save myself the 70km round trip and move down into the suburbs.

Hills people I find are generally very conservative and will not take fondly to this, especially given the complete lack of respect and consultation that has been given to us. I’m sure that a lot of the people who are delighted about the decision would change their tune if it was stuck under their nose instead.

Our taxes are much better spent elsewhere. Health Services. Schools. Keeping country hospitals open. Local sporting facilities. The homeless. APY Lands (spend a week up there if you ever want an eye opening experience..wow..but that is a whole different debate). This country has enough problems without adding more to the ever growing list.

My mate just did - settled last month. He's NOT happy at all.

[Jimmy_041]

I hear that, as part of the deal, the asylum seekers have agreed to play for Callington next year........

[fisho mcspaz]

What's wrong with Baxter?

Baxter is closed. I don't know the ins and outs of it all, but from my uninformed perspective, I would say that the government would be reluctant to reopen it because Baxter has a bad history. Under the Howard government, asylum seekers were treated appallingly, and people were detained in Baxter for years. Remember when they sewed their lips shut? Also, the place looks like the surface of the moon.

I don't agree with mandatory detention for refugees, but Inverbrackie seems a far better alternative to Baxter. It looks less like a prison and it's closer to the Adelaide metropolis. But I'd like to see these people being housed without guards and barbed wire fences.

If I lived in Woodside I think I'd probably feel a bit anxious initially about how the town environment would change - I'm trying to be honest here. I mean, the hills offers a certain lifestyle and that'd be the reason I'd move there in the first place. But I'd like to think that ultimately I'd be able to think of the refugees first and that sympathy for them would push my own petty concerns to the back.

[saintal]

I hear that, as part of the deal, the asylum seekers have agreed to play for Callington next year........

Haven't they suffered enough? Might be a handy spinner or two among them though.

I feel for your mate gadj1976. Everyone I've spoken with is anxious/concerned. Interesting times await.

Why the rush to have people here by xmas? Will it stop at 400 or keep climbing and climbing? There is sooo much room for extra development out at Inverbrackie.

[Gingernuts]

What is interesting is the total lack of any type of community consultation. I have no doubt that there are various councils across Australia that would welcome a centre like this with open arms to actually bolster their communities. Why not put it out to tender where the people will be welcomed instead of superimposing policy on a community without giving the local people an opportunity to be a part of the process???

I think in this case it was because Inverbrackie is a cheap option for them. They already have an army base there that they are closing / have closed down and so all the facilities are there, they most likely just need some minor conversion work. Establishing a new one anywhere else would cost substantial $$$$.

I agree with you about the lack of consultation though. The state and local govts basically found out about it the same time as we all did, and according to the paper today they will be beginning to ship families there from Christmas Island within 6 - 8 weeks.

I am optimistic that it will end up being quite a positive for the community - but the lack of communication/consultation has been appalling, and will incite community anger and negativity on an already controversial issue that could have been easily avoided.

They are not closing down the Army base. The Inverbrackie village is a Defence owned housing estate down the road (Woodside to Nairne Rd) from the base and all houses are currently empty as the married soldiers are now living in other Defence owned properties scattered thru the area rather than in 1 spot. The house are all there along with a hall etc so just need doing up a bit, as they are Defence owned (but on public land) they can't just be rented out to the public. At least the cost is lest than building the houses from scratch somewhere else and the influx will benefit all the surrounding towns with Nairne only a few km's up the road.

Sorry Hazbeen, my mistake. I must've mis-read about the residential side of things.

[Squawk]

Inverbrackie is a perfect place from a "big P" Political perspective.

It is in a safe liberal electorate
the resources (ie houses) exist already
it meets the test of 'community' - ie 80 houses co-located together
it is close to metropolitan Adelaide and therefore access to services, Immigration staff, etc
When it comes time to move, anywhere in metropolitan Adelaide will be an easy task (as it will be for any who wish to abscond).

As Fisho said, do not mention to Julia Gillard the words "Nauru", or "Baxter". If Baxter (or Nauru) was used, Labor would have to deflect criticism that they were doing things no differently to the Libs.

The thing that bowls me over is that not so long ago, Rudd made his great declaration that the problem of homelessness must be overcome. It's amazing how 5,200 assylum seekers on Xmas Island and a few other places, can suddenly (by their very mass) open up the Treasury coffers. The time has come where they cant physically confine them where they want to have them and so necessity has arguably brought about this decision, cleverly disguised by the fact that a new Immigration Minister and new PM can be seen to backflip or back down.

Abbot is right - they haven't stopped the boats. People Smugglers will now be sending their PR teams into overdrive to get a few pics of Inverbrackie to put in their 'travel brochures'.

I would not like to be fleeing from persecution. The problem is, it takes a long time to establish the facts and circumstances regarding every individual. If you come by boat, you usually have no papers. If you overstay your visa, you have been vetted and the authorities know who you are.

97% of "assylum seekers" are found to have valid claims. However, once their claim is successful they effectively deny another migrant from coming to Australia under traditional processes. Hence the term "queue jumper". I'd jump queue if it saved my life too, but it's not the 97% that I think about as much as the 3% who dont have valid claims and are deemed a risk to this country. 3% of 400 is about 12 people, but that's a lot of potential trouble.

If these family groups are indeed from mainly Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, you can bet your bottom dollar that many, (not just the potential 12 problem people), Sri Lankans have links to the Tamil Tigers.

[The Yetti]

I watched a bit of a recent documentary featuring Vietnamese born Comedian Dat Phan a Vietnamese Boat Person.
His tales of fear for his family at the hands of pirates and people smugglers were amazing.
His Family had incredible courage to flee their own country, and float across a very dangerous patch of water to an unknown
and unsympathetic country.

Who of us would pack up their family and travel from Afghanistan, Iraq, etc across the subcontinent, through Asia to put your life in the hands
of a shonky people smuggler?
Who of us would risk their lives to do something to save our families?These people have real balls to do what they have done.

Yep they have cue jumped, but surely these brave families have the characteristics of our early settlers, the courage and determination that Australians
hold dear.
30years of war in Afghanistan with Russia and then America and almost as long a civil war in Sri Lanka can you blame them for wanting out.

How many of us are of German descent that fled persecution from Prussia in the 1840's?
How many of us are from European origin who fled Europe post WW 2?
How many of us are descendants of the original Convicts?

As far as I am concerned we should be doing our utmost to help all our fellow Humans.
We are the lucky Country and we should be compassionate and caring and share it with these unfortunate and gutsy refugees

[Dutchy]

Ive always wondered, do some actually make it to mainland Australia? What do they do when they get here?

[Gingernuts]

How many of us are of German descent that fled persecution from Prussia in the 1840's?

I can put up my hand for this one.

Great post Yetti.

[JK]

I watched a bit of a recent documentary featuring Vietnamese born Comedian Dat Phan a Vietnamese Boat Person.
His tales of fear for his family at the hands of pirates and people smugglers were amazing.
His Family had incredible courage to flee their own country, and float across a very dangerous patch of water to an unknown
and unsympathetic country.

Who of us would pack up their family and travel from Afghanistan, Iraq, etc across the subcontinent, through Asia to put your life in the hands
of a shonky people smuggler?
Who of us would risk their lives to do something to save our families?These people have real balls to do what they have done.

Yep they have cue jumped, but surely these brave families have the characteristics of our early settlers, the courage and determination that Australians
hold dear.
30years of war in Afghanistan with Russia and then America and almost as long a civil war in Sri Lanka can you blame them for wanting out.

How many of us are of German descent that fled persecution from Prussia in the 1840's?
How many of us are from European origin who fled Europe post WW 2?
How many of us are descendants of the original Convicts?

As far as I am concerned we should be doing our utmost to help all our fellow Humans.
We are the lucky Country and we should be compassionate and caring and share it with these unfortunate and gutsy refugees

Top post .. Im not sure how much I would put down to having "balls" or just the incredible depth of survival instinct in some people, either way it would take boat loads of courage for these people to do what they're doing, and that courage would continue for the rest of their days if they made it to a new and completely differently culture country.

We have it so so good over here, and if we can accommodate more people then we should be doing all we can to help others.

[Footy Chick]

How many of us are of German descent that fled persecution from Prussia in the 1840's?

I can put up my hand for this one.

Great post Yetti.

The difference being that back then, new Australians were forced to learn english and were taught everything so they can make their own way in society and were happy to do so.

Nowadays it's just one big handout and demand afer demand from people that technically shouldn't even be here in the first place. Where do they think sewing their mouths shut and jumping off roofs is going to get them? You've come with nothing, if you don't like the taxpayer funded accommodation, clothing and welfare we give to you as illegals, you can always go home.

(In saying that, I have 3 Afghan women who live next door to me, a mum and 2 daughters. When they first moved in about 6 years ago, they were given no support and me and my neighbour had to teach them alot of day to day things, including how to vote when they became citizens. The girls have also always worked very hard, including working 2 jobs at a time to make ends meet. The eldest daughter recently went back to Afganastan to get married and the husband has recently moved in too. He is trained in IT and already spoke english, so has had no problem in finding suitable employment)

Even some Nazi's and those who committed war crimes were caught up with here eventually. However, like many other who will never admit to it, I'm just waiting for a terrorist to slip through the cracks.

[JK]

I'm just waiting for a terrorist to slip through the cracks.

I think everybody has that thought, that's why the proper processing channels need to be adhered to .. Whether it's a legal or illegal immigrant, there's always still going to be a risk involved, but then there's enough homegrown nutters to ensure there's always a risk anyway I guess.