Report delays stall plans for Melbourne CBD injecting room
A decision on the fate of Melbourne’s second supervised injecting room faces more delays as a former top cop’s report won’t be finalised for months.
Victoria
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A crucial report by former top cop Ken Lay to determine the fate of Melbourne’s second medically supervised injecting room continues to face lengthy delays.
The Herald Sun can reveal Mr Lay’s report, which was expected to be finalised at the end of 2021, will now be handed down at some stage this year – sparking more delays.
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.
Former top cop Ken Lay is believed to have nominated the site on a shortlist after a review of potential locations in the City of Melbourne ordered by the government.
As first revealed by the Herald Sun in May 2021, the southern end of the city, west of Swanston St, emerged as a likely location a second drug injecting room after it had originally flagged to be near Queen Victoria Market.Flinders St traders, who work nearby the proposed site, have told the Herald Sun they are “limbo” over the report’s delay.
Traders also say the site has sat vacant for months, with no works taking place.
Doug Lydiate, who works at OTC Vintage, said Mr Lay’s report needed to be urgently handed down.
“With all of the crime in the area, a second injecting room is going to make it 10 times worse,” Mr Lydiate said.
“There’s shoplifting, drug use and drug dealers already here and it’s so concerning to see what’s happening in Richmond.”
“I think this report should be handed down sooner rather than later because traders need to know so they can have time to prepare for it.”
Marc Laucher, who has owned Waffle On in Degraves St for 18 years, said traders demanded answers on the status of Mr Lay’s report.
“The report needs to be released as soon as possible, we are in limbo as we haven’t heard anything,” Mr Laucher said.
“I’m absolutely concerned about the second injecting room being built on Flinders St. There are drug users here every day shooting up in the alleyway – the whole idea is absurd, we don’t want it.”
Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said the state government was treating Victorians with contempt.
“There is ongoing secrecy in not releasing this report. It was due months ago and Victorians deserve to understand what the government’s plans are,” Ms Crozier said.
A state government spokesman said no decision had been made regarding the final location for the Melbourne Supervised Injecting Service.
“With around one person a month dying from heroin overdose in the City of Melbourne, there is a real and growing need for a health service that can address and prevent drug harms in the CBD,” he said.
“A second supervised injecting service will save lives and change lives.”
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