Lord Mayor Sally Capp refuses to back second Melbourne injecting room on Flinders St

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp has sensationally spoken out against the proposed second injecting room on Flinders St, claiming the council does not support it.

Traders have welcomed Lord Mayor Sally Capp speaking out against the location of an injecting room in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD.

The Herald Sun revealed last week city traders were pleading with the state government to reconsider its plan for the injecting room on Flinders St, saying the project could send their businesses under.

Ms Capp on Tuesday said: “We do not believe the current site is the best site for a safe ­injecting room.

“We’ve actually agreed as a council that we understand safe injecting rooms can save lives, but it’s very important it’s located in an appropriate place.”

Degraves St traders strongly oppose the proposed injecting room. Picture: Jason Edwards

Melbourne has had a safe injecting room in Richmond for two years.

Johnny Sandish, managing director at Xpressomondo cafe in Degraves St, said he welcomed Ms Capp’s comments.

“We don’t want an injecting room facility on Flinders St,” he said. “This shows she is very sympathetic to our businesses and she understands the problems.”

The Block Arcade general manager Grant Cohen said Ms Capp’s approach was “very sensible”.

“The majority of traders would support her views as long as there is not something in the back of the minds of others who want the injecting room in the CBD,” he said.

But Dohertys Gym owner Tony Doherty, who operates at the Banana Alley Vaults, said Ms Capp needed to be clearer on her stance regarding a second injecting room.

“Her comments were wishy-washy, she didn’t say it shouldn’t be in the city, so she could support moving it 50m up the road,” he said.

A makeshift camp has been set up in front of the Richmond room. Picture: David Crosling

Ms Capp said the council resolved to support a safe injecting room to be located at an appropriate site in the City of Melbourne in May 2021.

“This resolution also calls on the Victorian government to commit to a thorough consultation process for residents and businesses, and for an ­improvement to amenity, cleanliness and safety wherever such services may be ­located,” she said.

“I have and will continue to listen to our community, ­including those with deep concerns regarding negative ­impacts on the city.”

A state government spokesman said no decision had been made regarding the final ­location of Melbourne’s second injecting room.

“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.

Former top cop Ken Lay is believed to have nominated the Flinders St site on a shortlist after a review was ordered by the state government of potential locations.

But his final report, which was expected to be completed in 2021, has yet to be finished.

Originally published as Lord Mayor Sally Capp refuses to back second Melbourne injecting room on Flinders St