FRONT DOOR ANGER AT CROSS

THE injecting room's proposed location, at the "front door" of Kings Cross,
has angered locals.

The site is opposite one of Sydney's busiest railway stations, aud next to
a well-used bus stop and taxi rank.

Kings Cross Chamber of Commerce spokesman Malcolm Duncan said the group
would do everything possible to halt trials at the site, includlug a
Supreme Court challenge.

He said meetings between traders, residents and the operators of the
proposed centre had been tense from the start.

Mr Duncan urged the Victorian Government to ensure strong community
consultation provisions were drafted in any legislation.

"The New South Wales legislation wasn't well drafted," he said.

Noses were further put out by claims Kings Cross was a run down, seedy area
and an injecting room wouldn't be noticed among the strip joints and tattoo
parlors.

"What about the poor newsagent and shoe shop?". Mr Duncan said. "Every
trader should be considered before this is plonked in the middle of a
commercial strip."

Traders are especially concerned the centre will have a "honeypot" effect.

"We're on a train line and the bus route . . . how do we know people aren't
going to be lining up in the street," Mr Duncan said.

Locals are further worried because the centre's management plan is yet to
be flnalised. Issues such as what would happen if adult drug users brought
children with them were yet to be resolved.

"They haven't even applied for the licence yet," Mr Duncan said.

"Cumulatively, we get the impression that it's not been thought out properly."

"And until it has, we don't want it."

Other states would do well to ensure the public were consulted "every step
of the way".