Injecting room decision prompts calls for probe into North Richmond facility

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has rejected calls for a review into Richmond’s supervised injecting room, saying it is “very different” to what had been proposed for Melbourne’s CBD.

Premier Jacinta Allan has defended the North Richmond supervised injecting room, rejecting calls from neighbouring residents for an inquiry into the site.

Angry residents living near the facility have accused the government of double standards after Premier Jacinta Allan on Tuesday sensationally dumped plans to open a second injecting room in the Melbourne CBD.

Residents have long claimed the site, which adjoins a primary school, is inappropriate.

On Wednesday Ms Allan said the Richmond facility — the state’s only injecting room — was a “critically important” part of the state’s health-led response to drug addiction.

“The history of the establishment of the facility in North Richmond had a very different trajectory to the one that was being considered in the CBD,” she said.

Ms Allan said there are no plans to look at relocating the facility.

“That’s not a recommendation that is before government for consideration,” she said.

“We’ve had a review ... we are committed to the supervised injecting facility in North Richmond being part of that range of programs that provide support for people who use drugs across the state.”

Premier Jacinta Allan announces the government will not proceed with a second injecting room in Melbourne. Picture: Blair Jackson

In ruling out a second injecting room for Melbourne, Ms Allan said the government had been unable to find a site that would balance the needs of both the drug taking community and the broader city.

North Richmond resident Sharon Neven said the government’s decision to rule out an injecting room in the CBD should prompt a review of the existing facility.

“Now that we know the government will make decisions based on location, we are demanding a review into the North Richmond facility,” she said.

“We were promised when the room was opened that it would take the injecting off the streets and improve the area, but the opposite has occurred. We’ve had more dead bodies in the streets since the room has opened than ever before.

“For the safety of both the community and the drug users, we need a review into the impact of location for these facilities. New South Wales includes location conditions in their legislation for injecting rooms but Victoria has completely failed to do this.

“All our community has ever wanted was to work with the government to find a solution that properly balanced the safety and wellbeing of residents and those who use Supervised Injecting facilities. This impacts our lives every single day and it’s getting worse. We need this review.”

Angry residents living near the North Richmond injecting room have accused the government of double standards.

A mother, whose two children attend Richmond West Primary School, says parents want the injecting room moved. Picture: Nicole Garmston

The Herald Sun has previously revealed a spate of terrifying incidents at a primary school next door to Richmond’s controversial injecting room, which opened in 2018.

Documents released to the Herald Sun under Freedom of Information laws outlined shocking incidents at Richmond West Primary School including a man exposing himself next to the playground.

A man was also found dead near the school forcing authorities to direct students and parents away from the main entrance.

Local resident Hamish Cormack, whose nine-year-old daughter attends the school, said he was “very disappointed” that North Richmond would continue to bear the brunt of anti-social behaviour.

“North Richmond will continue to carry the load for the rest of Melbourne considering 70 per cent of users do not originate or reside in North Richmond,” Mr Cormack said.

“The only saving grace was that the one in the city would open up and would effectively halve the load.”

Shocking incidents have taken place near Richmond West Primary School. Picture: Jason Edwards

A man uses drugs in a carpark next to the Richmond West Primary school. Picture: Jason Edwards

Mr Cormack said he had continued to witness anti-social behaviour nearby the school.

“There was a man in a drug-induced state screaming obscenities and smashing windows at the MSIR (injecting room), while children under 12 were about to walk directly through the precinct after playing on the futsal court.

“I banged on the door of the injecting room and spoke to security telling them someone was smashing windows on the side of the building and his response was ‘yes, we’re aware of this and we’re in a lockdown’.

“The security guard said to me anything that happens on your side of the door is not our problem … I was furious and called the police.”

A mother, whose two children attend Richmond West Primary School, said parents wanted the injecting room moved.

“The notion that parents are OK with the North Richmond injecting room being next door to the school is completely false,” she said.

The mother said she had been approached by a drug user during school pick-up last month.

“The man who was drug-affected knocked on our car window while I was picking up the kids,” she said.

“It was very confronting.

“Unfortunately, this is nothing new for parents and residents, our voices should be heard.”