RESIDENTS OPPOSE DRUG ROOM

The vocal central business district group, Residents 3000, yesterday
maintained its strong opposition to the Wesley Central Mission establishing
a safe injecting facility on its city premises.

"There has been no consultation whatsoever. And if this proceeds, it is in
one of the most highly residentially populated precincts within the CBD,"
said the group's spokesman, Vince Mahon.

Mr Mahon, speaking on ABC radio, also alleged that Wesley was already using
the Lonsdale Street mission site as a "de facto injecting room".

"It's been going on for some months now," he said. "The consequence of this
activity occurring has meant that we've seen an increase in crime and (a)
threat to adjoining residents."

Mr Mahon attacked Wesley's "conduct" because it did not allow "the community
to move forward to meet this serious issue".

The chairman of the government's drug policy expert committee, David
Penington, said while he could understand that residents might have concerns
about injecting rooms, Residents 3000 had proved to be a "self-serving
organisation".

Dr Penington praised Wesley for its long history of serving the needy in
inner-Melbourne.