Push to release top cop’s report set to determine fate of second injecting room in Melbourne

A motion before the City of Melbourne is demanding the “urgent” release of a report which will determine the fate of Melbourne’s second injecting room.

A motion before the City of Melbourne is demanding the “urgent” release of former top cop Ken Lay’s report, which will determine the fate of Melbourne’s second injecting room.

The motion to go before a Future Melbourne Committee meeting on Tuesday by Councillor Roshena Campbell has demanded Mr Lay’s report on the site be urgently completed and released.

It seeks confirmation as to which sites in the City of Melbourne are under consideration by the state government for the proposed injecting room including any sites recommended in any drafts of the Ken Lay report.

It also notes to “express the concern” of many traders and residents in the City of Melbourne as to whether an injecting room will be opened in the CBD and if so, its location.

It comes after the Herald Sun revealed earlier this year Mr Lay’s report, which was expected to be finalised at the end of 2020, would now be handed down at some stage this year – sparking more delays.

Ken Lay’s report will determine the fate of Melbourne’s second injecting room. Picture: Ellen Smith

The state government has long blamed the pandemic on the delays, with restrictions limiting community consultation.

It bought the former Yooralla facility at 244 Flinders St early last year.

The motion also requests an independent review of the impacts of the North Richmond injecting room on the community and seeks clarification as to the level of compensation to be provided to ratepayers and property owners affected by the location.

Johnny Sandish, managing director at Xpressomondo cafe in Degraves St, said he agreed with Cr Campbell’s motion, saying a second injecting room on Flinders St would “severely hurt” his business.

“Ken Lay needs to urgently release the report, traders deserve answers as to where the second injecting room will go, we are worried about the impact it will have on our businesses,” he said.

A man openly injects drugs into his leg in a thoroughfare alley a few hundred meters from the Richmond Safe Injecting Room. Picture: Jason Edwards

Traders near Flinders St are opposed to the second injecting room in the CBD.

Melbourne restaurant king Chris Lucas said business owners were “entitled” to have answers on the fate of Melbourne’s second injecting room.

“We need to know what the genuine plans are for the injecting room and we should know now before the election, that’s only fair considering potential impacts on small businesses in the CBD,” he said.

Opposition mental health spokeswoman Emma Kealy said traders and residents of Melbourne’s CBD are right to be concerned by the “failed trail” of Richmond’s injecting room.

“It has resulted in drug and crime issues plaguing local families and businesses and traumatising students at the neighbouring primary school. This will soon be replicated in the heart of our city,” she said.

Last week, Deputy opposition leader Georgie Crozier also raised an adjournment in parliament calling for the release of the Ken Lay report.

The Herald Sun revealed earlier this week that a consortium of drug researchers had piled pressure on the state government to build several more safe injecting rooms across Victoria.

The City of Melbourne said it would not comment prior to the committee meeting.

A state government spokeswoman said: “No decision has been made regarding the final location for the Melbourne Supervised Injecting Service.”

“There is a real and growing need for a health service that can address and prevent drug harms in the CBD. A second supervised injecting service will save lives and change lives,” she said.

Originally published as Push to release top cop’s report set to determine fate of second injecting room in Melbourne