Needle vending machine outside North Richmond injecting room switched off in two-week trial

A needle vending machine outside Richmond’s injecting room, loathed by residents is being switched off as part of a two-week trial. Here’s why they want it permanently removed.

A needle vending machine outside Richmond’s injecting room is being switched off as part of a two-week trial.

The “syringe dispensing unit” was closed tonight following an internal review from North Richmond Community Health, which runs the supervised injecting room.

Users will still be able to access needles, either in the injecting room or over-the-counter at the health service’s needle and syringe program.

The program will be open an extra three hours at night in the fortnight that the vending machine is closed.

A discarded needle in a Richmond laneway in mid-May. Picture: Supplied

Richmond residents have called for the vending machine to be shut off or moved, arguing it allowed users to get needles and shoot up without entering the supervised injecting room.

A resident said last night: “It is a start but we will wait and see what impact it has.”

The move comes days after the Herald Sun revealed shocking footage of violence, sex acts and people continuing to inject in the street and a carpark next to the injecting room.

Premier Daniel Andrews acknowledged that the two-year trial was not “universally popular” but said it was saving lives and should be allowed to “run its course”.

Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said tonight that the government had increased security patrols and street sweeps, as well as doubled outreach services in a bid to improve amenity around the injecting room.

Lighting will also be upgraded and the injecting room’s opening hours extended when a new centre, currently under construction, is built.

The site of the injecting room, North Richmond Community Health. Picture: Supplied

“We’ve listened to the experts and the community, and when the new purpose built facility opens mid year, we’ll be extending the opening hours so that people who need it have a place to go,” Mr Foley said.

Reason Party leader Fiona Patten, who was instrumental in establishing the injecting room trial, advocated for the vending machine to be relocated to manage crowds outside the centre.

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“Australia has been a leader in harm reduction around the transmission of bloodborne viruses and our needle exchange programs are at the forefront of that,” she said.

“While I am an advocate of relocating those facilities because of the crowds that were starting to emerge outside the North Richmond centre, I would be concerned if anyone wasn’t able to get a clean syringe when they needed one.”

Yarra Councillor Stephen Jolly described the move as a “good thing”, given council data showed only about 40 per cent of drug users in the area were using the injecting room.

“Anything that encourages people to use the supervised injecting room has got to be supported,” he said.

“This could potentially increase the amenity for residents, and encourage addicts to use it.”

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