New drug injecting room site wasn’t inspected before announcement
The State Government won’t say if officials visited the controversial proposed site for Melbourne’s second drug injecting room before it was announced as the preferred location. Here’s why.
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The State Government won’t say if officials visited the proposed site for Melbourne’s second drug injecting room before it was announced as the preferred location.
The Sunday Herald Sun has been told no physical inspections occurred.
Asked directly, a Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman failed to provide a straight answer, saying only that a panel had identified the service should be near an illicit drug market, co-located within a network of services and be “compatible” with the needs of drug users and expectations of local residents.
“The independent review panel recommended that a second site be established in the City of Melbourne – where 51 people have lost their lives to heroin and ambulance call out rates for drug related harm are the second highest in the state,” the spokeswoman said.
The location also offered easy transport links to Melbourne’s medical precinct, she said.
The proposed injecting room site — near the Queen Victoria Market — has caused division within Melbourne City Council.
It on Tuesday night voted against a motion from Deputy Lord Mayor Arron Wood calling for the council to oppose the State Government proposed site.
It is also nearby Haileybury College’s city campus.
A school spokeswoman declined to comment.
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