Mobile injecting buses revealed as key discussion point in Ken Lay’s report

Mobile injecting buses for drug users have been floated as an alternative to a second facility in Melbourne’s CBD, as fierce debate continues over a suitable site.

Mobile injecting buses are used in cities across Europe. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell

Mobile injecting buses have been raised as an option to service Melbourne’s CBD, as plans for a second drug facility in the city have “stalled”.

High level sources told the Herald Sun the concept of mobile injecting buses was one of the key discussion points between former top cop Ken Lay and stakeholders as part of his report into an injecting room for the city.

“They are mini buses with booths where people can safely inject. The model could be adopted as an effective trial in different locations before a fixed site is decided upon,” one source said.

It comes as government insiders told the Herald Sun plans for a second injecting room in Melbourne’s CBD had “stalled”, with fierce debate continuing over whether 244 Flinders St was an appropriate site to offer the service.

The former Yooralla building on Flinders Street has been floated as proposed site of a new safe injecting room. Picture: Mark Stewart

In major European cities including Barcelona and Berlin the mini buses, or vans, are fitted out with two to three injection booths.

In 2017, Montreal launched its first safe injecting site, alongside a two-booth mobile unit.

Some buses move to different locations, while others stay in a fixed spot that is well-known for drug use and dealing.

The buses are sometimes parked outside existing health services, with signage on the vehicles that say “safe consumption”.

The state government refused to comment on mobile injecting buses in the city when asked by the Herald Sun.

The Andrews government last week received a report from Mr Lay into an injecting room for Melbourne’s CBD.

Mr Lay’s report was meant to be finalised at the end of 2020 but the government pushed it back blaming the pandemic and changed drug user behaviour.

He was tasked with writing the report amid concerns the area has a high proportion of heroin overdoses, but traders have railed against the facility being placed near them.

The state government bought 244 Flinders St for $40.3m in 2021.

New Freedom of Information documents between Mr Lay and the Department of Health also reveal key issues facing Melbourne’s CBD.

Inside an injecting room bus in Berlin. Picture: ResearchGate

The documents said the city had suffered “disproportionate, significant economic impacts during the pandemic” and recovery was an additional factor for consideration for location of an injecting room.

A spokesman from Keep Our City Alive, who are a group of residents calling for an injecting room in Melbourne’s CBD, said with one person dying from overdose each month in the CBD, the need for such a facility had never been greater.

“We call on the Andrews Government to urgently identify a site for a second supervised injecting room in the City of Melbourne, and prevent any further lives lost to overdose in our city,” the spokesman said.

Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association chief executive Sam Biondo said he had “serious concerns” there was no determination by the state government to offer an injecting room in Melbourne.

“Those concerns are based on the continuing number of deaths that are occurring in the city and the increasing number of ambulance call-outs,” Mr Biondo said.

Opposition Mental Health spokeswoman Emma Kealy said: “CBD businesses, residents, and the AOD sector simply want clarity on what Labor’s plans are for Melbourne’s CBD. Is it an injecting room, an injecting bus or simply a drug outreach services as outlined in the budget?”

A state government spokeswoman said Mr Lay’s report had been provided to the Mental Health Minister.

“We are considering its recommendations and will release the report, and a government response, in due course,” the spokeswoman said.