The ACT Government has announced it will not proceed with the relocation of Arcadia House, a substance withdrawal and rehabilitation service, to Cook.

Two shortlisted sites at Cook Ovals were proposed as the new home for the service once it leaves Bruce, however, the Government sites clear community feedback as the reason it will not proceed.

The six-week consultation process found that while the vast majority of respondents support the ongoing provision of alcohol and other drug rehabilitation services, significant concerns exist about the suitability of the two shortlisted sites.

Community members highlighted the importance of the Cook Community Hub precinct and surrounding open spaces, noting that these support social connection, community events and organised sport such as Little Athletics and other long-standing community-led recreation activities.

Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith thanked everyone who engaged in the consultation process.

“At every stage we were clear that no decision had been made regarding either site in Cook, and that community feedback would shape the next stage in the decision-making process” Ms Stephen-Smith said.

“It is important to recognise that this decision has been made on the basis of feedback about the current uses of the identified sites in Cook, and I emphatically reject any suggestion that Arcadia House or its consumers would have presented a risk to the surrounding community.

“Alcohol and drug rehabilitation services of this kind are best placed in the community and have an incentive to be excellent neighbours, which is exactly what we see with other sites across the ACT.”

Infrastructure Canberra is now assessing whether a potential alternative location has become available since the initial search, or if any of the previously considered sites warrant further investigation.