State Government approves safe night space for women in Northbridge
Ruah Community Services has won its battle to open a shelter for women in Northbridge.
The Safe Night Space is a unique program designed to provide critical shelter for vulnerable women, including those escaping domestic violence.
Ruah previously ran the service from the Rod Evans Community Centre in East Perth and had sought temporary approval from the City of Perth to move it to 247-249 James Street.
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Ruah had appealed conditions of the city’s approval to the State Administrative Tribunal.
But it was called in by Planning Minister John Carey, who is also the Perth MLA. He appointed Health and Mental Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson to rule on it to remove any perception he had a conflict of interest.
Ms Sanderson announced on Friday she had approved the service with new conditions after “careful consideration”.
It will run 7pm to 7am seven days a week, providing women with basic services including laundry, toilets and showers, but its approval is for only 30 months.
A proposed attendance curfew of 10pm has been removed; instead, clients will be encouraged to visit between 7pm and 10pm for planned visits.
Emergency cases will be accepted after 10pm.
The requirement for a security guard to be at the premises during operational hours was also removed. Ruah’s security staff will hold hourly patrols.
In her finding, Ms Sanderson said the city did not provide any examples or evidence of negative amenity impacts or antisocial behaviour when the service was at the Rod Evans Centre.
“Full consideration was given to a range of planning considerations including the suitability of land use and local amenity that helps inform the future operations and site management,” she said.
“I am pleased to bring these outstanding matters to resolution to ensure this critical, safe service for women in crisis can now resume operations.
“It is in the public interest that we are able to support these vulnerable members of our community and ensure they are not at further risk of assault, abuse, health or mental health issues.”
The City of Perth closed the Safe Night Space at the Rod Evans Centre in East Perth last November after its two-year trial came to an end.
Three weeks before the planned closure, the Cook Government offered $3.1 million to keep Safe Night Space operational but the lifeline was rejected, with Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas saying it came too late and a commitment had already been made to return the Rod Evans centre to the community.
The city received 30 objections citing issues relating to crime, vandalism, loss of business and loss of amenity when it advertised the James Street proposal for comment.