Scientology rehab centre at Yarramalong on the Central Coast gets a rural cold shoulder

The Daily Telegraph, Australia/March 28, 2014

By Richard Noone

A contentious new drug and alcohol rehab centre on the Central Coast linked to the Church of Scientology has received 80 written objections from a local community with just 129 families.

Scientology offshoot Association for Better Living and Education Inc (ABLE) has lodged a development application to turn a run-down private resort into a live-in rehab centre with 35 patients staying up to six months at a time.

But residents of Yarramalong are fuming over the application and fear their “peaceful and serene hamlet” will be shattered by the establishment of a “hospital-style clinic” housing recovering drunks and drug addicts. ABLE runs about 120 controversial Narconon substance abuse treatment centres across 30 countries.

It’s drug-free treatment program is based on the teachings of Scientology founder and science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard and has been investigated in the US and Europe following multiple deaths.

Yarramalong Community Action Group spokesman Bill Love said the commercial venture — “what the Church of Scientology term an education facility” — breached local zoning regulations.

“The application has created furore among residents and ratepayers concerned about the environment of their valley and the security risks,’’ he said.

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