Evicted elderly, disabled residents to seek redress against council’s decision
Residents being evicted from Bayside Council’s independent living units are considering a legal challenge.
Last month the council made a decision to remove the 16 elderly or disabled residents over the next two years.
The council says the Sandringham and Beaumaris units are costing too much to maintain and the service is not a core responsibility. But the move caused outrage in the community, with many decrying the decision as a land grab.
Now residents, led by Sister Patrice Timoney, are considering taking the council to court.
She said they believed their tenure was for an indefinite period and the buildings actually belonged to the community.
‘‘Forty-five years ago there was a lovely community spirit in Bayside with people raising money through raffles and such,’’ Ms Timoney said.
‘‘They approached the federal and state governments to match them dollar for dollar and they did, and these buildings were built — for the community.
‘‘We believe the buildings were intended for this specific purpose, and the council is trying to bypass that.’’

Bayside community services director Heather Johnson said the council ‘‘did not intend to revisit this decision’’.
Ms Johnson added that the ‘‘council is not limiting its role and support for tenants to its legal obligations’’.
‘‘Council is providing personal, practical and financial support to every tenant to ensure their suitable relocation to appropriate and affordable housing.
‘‘The decision to no longer provide rental housing has been made because council does not see this as a continuing council role.’’
This story appears in the Bayside Leader page 11 of the week beginning Monday 28th November.

click on the link below to read the e-version.
http://leader.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

The issue has been picked up by Sally Cockburn of radio 3AW. In a letter she sent to the Bayside City Councillors on Tuesday 29 November.

(extract)
Given your professional background as a psychologist I am sure you will agree that finding a solution other than moving these elderly tenants out of the Independent Units is the preferable outcome. I have found interest from Social Housing organisations to take over the management of these units and I believe these avenues must be explored. Especially given Council has openly said it has no plans for alternative land use.
May I direct your attention to an article in the Bayside Leader this week where the Bayside Community Services Director ( below) is quoted as stating that Council has no intention of revisiting the issue of closure . I am very surprised that an officer would make such a politically charged statement on behalf of Council unless she had authority to do so. Louise, these elderly folk are vulnerable and reluctant to speak up – I am sure you will agree that they deserve to have strong advocacy. I seek your assurance that the matter is not closed for discussion – especially given that so far it has not been open for consultation.

I look forward to your prompt reply and, as you suggested, I would be happy to meet with you at any time to introduce you to some of the tenants and explain the issues. I hope you have had a chance to listen to the radio program I did on this issue last week which showcased issues relating to social housing using this local issue as an example of much wider problems. Please note that it was said that this decision by Bayside is not necessarily the trend. If you haven’t heard it - here is a link to the pod cast : http://www.3aw.f2.com.au/Podcast/Feeds/66.xml ( Nov 20) . I encourage you to please listen.
We have an had enormously strong public response to the show. It is an issue people feel strongly about.
I look forward to hearing from you soon

sincerely
Sally
Dr Sally Cockburn