The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) says group homes are a common part of residential communities across New South Wales.
The Deputy Director General, Accommodation and Direct Services, Ethel McAlpine, said the department had almost 100 group homes and respite services for people with a disability in the South Western Sydney area.
“Most, if not all, have operated for more than 10 years and live in harmony with their neighbours and the local community.”
Ms McAlpine said that DADHC worked very hard at being a good neighbour in the community by ensuring that it abided by the usual neighbourly courtesies, such as keeping noise to a minimum and making sure that the house was well presented and that visiting vehicles did not cause inconvenience or obstruction.
She said that six new group homes, such as those being established at Ellis Lane, Grasmere, Theresa Park, Catherine Fields, Cobbity and Kentlyn, would provide accommodation in a group setting for between four and six people with an intellectual disability.
“Thirteen such homes are already operating in the Campbelltown and Camden areas.
“The facilities will be very similar to any other home in the street. Each resident will have their own room and will be supported in their daily life around the clock by qualified residential staff.
“Claims by a small number of people who continue to oppose group homes that neighbours experience constant problems of noise, visits by the police and being in fear in their own yards do not reflect the actual situation.
“The fact is there have been very few incidents such as those described.
“The five people who will be living in the new group home at Cobbity have an intellectual disability and have been living together at another location for many years. They are in an older age group and now, like many people of similar ages, they are seeking a lifestyle change.
“People with intellectual disabilities have a lot to offer local communities.
“Their desires are no different to other Australians and should be respected, because they have the same rights and privileges as all other citizens, including the right to live in a community.”
Ms Mc Alpine said that for the government to deny these people the right to live at a certain location would be to abrogate its responsibility to them and also would be discriminatory.