Daniel Andrews has let down thousands of North Richmond residents and business owners by extending the drug injecting centre trial by another three years in its current location.
Andrews’ announcement to open a second drug injecting centre beside one of Melbourne’s largest tourist attractions the Queen Victoria Markets is also a slap in the face to the many small businesses in the immediate area and local residents.
The Liberal Nationals have been calling for the North Richmond drug injecting centre trial to be relocated to a non-residential area, away from schools and small businesses.
The current location at Lennox Street in North Richmond is metres away from the local primary school and local residents have long raised concerns about the increase in anti-social behaviour, safety concerns and drops in property prices.
Residents have also reported an increase in public drug dealing and a honey-pot effect for drug users.
Comments attributable to Acting Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Georgie Crozier:
“The North Richmond drug injecting centre has ruined local businesses and driven local families out of the area due to safety concerns and anti-social behaviour.
“Daniel Andrews has announced a second drug injecting centre just meters away from one of Melbourne’s most famous tourist attractions without any community consultation or taking into consideration the impacts on the many local small businesses.
“If Daniel Andrews was serious about protecting the community, he would immediately move the trial away from a school, family homes and small businesses and reopen it in a commercial area.”
