Here is a selection of readers’ comments sourced from www.centralwesterndaily.com.au, ‘Central Western Daily’ Facebook page, and submitted to the newspaper ...

THERE appears to be three reasonable concerns that have been raised, that council should ensure are addressed: 1) adequate parking for residents, staff and any visitors; 2) will there be 24-hour floodlighting? If I was living next door I would have concerns over light pollution in this case. It’s a legitimate question; and 3) a covenant that there will be no re-purposing in future for use for parolees. Obviously not going to be used for that concurrently, but I do understand the residents concerns for what might happen 20 years down the track.

I HOPE most of the people commenting here (on Facebook) have taken the time to read the story and understand the residents’ points of view and concerns, especially regarding the potential to re-purpose the facility down the track. It’s also worth noting the words of Ploughmans Hill Community Group member Trevor Heane: “it’s a great facility in the wrong place”. Please try to remember that these people do not oppose help for those in need because of the scourge of domestic violence; they simply believe that help would best be catered for at another location.

I FEEL so sad, and I'm ashamed of our community. Some of us have been working for more than 20 years to have a safe place for the victims of domestic violence. I’d rather live next door to a place of refuge and safety than a house where people are being abused, murdered or otherwise harmed. We are kidding ourselves if we think a suburb of 'nice' houses is not affected by this scourge. I only hope the objectors will at least open their doors to their own neighbours in distress. Come and build it in my neighbourhood.

SOMETIMES people in crisis leave in the middle of the night, on foot, with small children on their hip carrying only what they can - no money for a taxi not even a friend who can drive them. So what crazy, out-of-your-view, far-off location would you rather they walk to? And how would their desperate, secret plight even affect you? 

THE perfect place for women and children to be accommodated is in a safe, residential community. I’m happy that we are finally getting a crisis accommodation service in Orange for women and children, something that has taken over 10 years to accomplish. Be part of the solution and support these families needing the community behind them.