THE ROOM THAT DIVIDED A COMMUNITY

This is the heroin injecting room that Melbourne will never
see.

In what could only be described as a bombshell decision, Melbourne
City Council last night declared its opposition to the facility at 117
Little Lonsdale Street.

Wesley Central Mission, which has poured $500,000 into the facility,
was devastated last night.

It was not even represented in the council chamber when the decision
was made.

By contrast, opponents of the proposed room were there in numbers.
They greeted the vote with cheering and applause.

"We would not call it a total victory but the council has done the
correct and courageous thing," said Vince Mahon, an executive member
of Residents 3000 which, along with the Eastenders Association, has
fought a long and bitter battle with Wesley.

Mr Mahon said the church had lost the trust and faith of residents and
had acted in a disgraceful and unchristian way.

Wesley always believed the location would present the biggest hurdle
in gaining community support. "Look at Sydney, it's now up to its 38th
site," Wesley's managing director Judy Leitch said last night. "We
knew from our overseas research to expect a small but vocal group that
would interpret the guidelines to suit them."

After spending $500,000 and a year constructing the facility in the
church grounds, it said it was willing to move to a new location if
the council and community could agree on one. It was also willing to
offer its research and expertise to other agencies considering setting
up an injecting room.

She said that when the mission decided to go ahead with the facility,
it was a different time and a different climate.

Last week, Wesley's superintendent, Reverend Tim Langley, said the
church held secret talks with the Kennett government, which had
indicated its support.

Ms Leitch said Wesley was of the understanding that it would be
involved in the council's consultation process, which is due to begin
at the end of this month.

The council also voted to ask Wesley to indicate the future use of the
room which residents say has been operating as a de facto injecting
centre.

"There are a number of uses for the facility, the injecting aspect is
just one small part," said Ms Leitch.