$12.5M FOR LOCAL ACTION ON HEROIN

Melbourne's main heroin neighborhoods will be targeted in a
multi-million-dollar local-action program to tackle the drug problem.

The Victorian Government will allocate $12.5million to five municipalities
identified as the worst-affected by drug problems.

Among areas to receive attention are the corner of Bourke and Russell
Streets in the city, street prostitution enclaves in St Kilda and community
housing estates in the City of Yarra.

Deputy Premier and Health Minister John Thwaites will announce the
allocation of funds for approved council proposals at the North Richmond
Community Health Centre.

The local-action plans and safety services are part of the Bracks
Government's $77 million Saving Lives drug package, which was the
government's response to the Penington report on drug policy, delivered
last year.

Of the five councils, the City of Yarra will be the first to receive the
$2.5 million available to each. The other councils are close to having
their plans approved by the government.

City of Yarra initiatives include hepatitis-B vaccinations for drug users,
an outreach community legal officer and a regular needle-collection service
for community housing estates.

"In the local drug strategy we particularly felt the need to target the
public housing estates, young people who are at risk and people from
multicultural backgrounds who were not serviced as well as we would have
liked," said Derek Chilton, drug safety officer at the City of Yarra.

Almost a year ago the Victorian Government's drug policy committee, chaired
by Dr David Penington, released stage one of its report that identified
five municipalities - Yarra, Melbourne, Greater Dandenong, Port Phillip and
Maribyrnong - as areas with high levels of drug activity.

Each municipality was asked to consider a trial of supervised injecting
facilities and to prepare local drug strategies to tackle the problem.

The minister will use today's funding announcement to acknowledge the role
of local government and community round-table participants in developing
their local strategies.

The chairman of the City of Port Phillip's round table, the Salvation
Army's Major David Brunt, will attend today's announcement with Mayor
Julian Hill.

"The Salvation Army St Kilda Crisis Centre has saved countless lives," Cr
Hill said.

Individuals this week have been invited to enter submissions for funding
under a "community strengthening" program to run throughout the state.

Funding over three years is available through the Department of Human
Services for ideas that focus on prevention, have a partnership approach,
will have long-term impact and complement other programs. The closing date
for submissions is March 16.