The move to relocate a drug and alcohol rehab near a preschool and licensed venues in a leafy northside suburb is "urban infill insanity" and consultations have "been an absolute joke," a resident says.
Fiona Bourke is petitioning the government over a proposal to move Arcadia House, a 12-bed rehabilitation and outpatient facility, to a site in the west Belconnen suburb of Cook.
"This is a heavily used area by a lot of very vulnerable groups, and whilst it's green space, it's actually heavily used green space," Ms Bourke said.
"Whilst Arcadia House is a very important facility, it actually needs to be somewhere that is appropriate for it. The government has literally just gone, 'where is available green space?' Let's just put it there.
"This is urban-infill insanity."
An ACT government spokesperson said it is exploring two potential relocation sites in Cook.
Both sites are within 200 metres of Koala Playschool, as well as Companion House, a community-based organisation for survivors of torture, and Emma Ruby House, a respite house for young people with disabilities.
These sites are both on green space adjacent to Cook Oval, which includes a playground and popular areas for dog-walking, and one would be in very close proximity to a preschool.
Other residents have united to campaign against the potential move after receiving pamphlets in the mail asking for community feedback.
"The only assumption you can make is they don't want to take away from areas that would generate revenue, like new housing or business locations," she said.
Ms Bourke also criticised the consultation process, including meetings scheduled during work hours, as an "absolute joke".
The government spokesperson said it was based on the availability of the hall, and an online survey is available to complete until July 16. An additional evening consultation has been scheduled.
"The preference has always been to locate the service in a community-based facility in Canberra's north and significant work has gone into seeking to identify an appropriate site," they said.
"The majority of alcohol and drug rehabilitation services in the ACT are located in suburban settings and we are not aware of any concerns from local communities about their operations."
Arcadia House is currently located in Bruce near the North Canberra Hospital but will be moved to allow construction of the new $1.5 billion northside hospital.
In a letter to Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, Lou Baker said while she supports the service, the proposed locations are inappropriate.
"As a parent raising a young family in Cook, I regularly see firsthand the extent to which these facilities are used and valued by local residents," Ms Baker wrote.
"These are not isolated or underutilised sites."
The Cook Grocer and restaurant To All My Friends, both located at Cook shops and within a five-minute walk of both proposed sites, sell alcohol.
"I am concerned that the government has not adequately explained why these locations have been identified as suitable when they are surrounded by facilities serving vulnerable populations and are within easy walking distance of multiple venues selling or serving alcohol," Ms Baker wrote.
"Placing a residential recovery facility within walking distance of multiple alcohol outlets appears inconsistent with the stated objectives of the program and risks undermining the wellbeing of future residents."
Other residents are concerned the building will impinge on the oval, which is used for Little Athletics, and limit green space.
The government previously considered temporarily moving Arcadia House to Rivett by upgrading aged care respite facility Burrangari for $6.5 million.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith previously said the government wanted to keep Arcadia House on the northside of Canberra, and only move it once.
Canberra Liberals member for Ginninderra Chiaka Barry sponsored Ms Bourke's petition, which was posted on Wednesday, June 10, and had more than 451 signatures five days later.
Ms Barry said she had received several emails from Cook residents concerned about the proximity of the sites to centres for vulnerable people and the consultation process.
"From what I've heard from the community, it's like the decision has already been made, and now the government is telling the community what's going to happen," Ms Barry said
"If you were going to do something like this, you want the community to buy into your solution, and you want to bring them along. I think the government has missed the mark in this instance."
Ms Barry will be holding a Community Town Hall on Sunday, June 21, at Holy Covenant Anglican Church in Cook. The next ACT government community drop-in session will be at Cook Community Hall at 1:30pm on Wednesday, June 17.
