RESIDENTS NOT ALL CONVINCED

Traders and industry groups are relieved by the Penington report's
recommendation to locate an injecting room in non-commercial areas, but
residents groups say the report does not allay their safety concerns.

The Eastenders group, representing residents in the area between Lonsdale
and La Trobe Streets in the CBD, said recommendations that an injecting
room not be in an area primarily used for residential purposes did not
safeguard city dwellers.

"It is a mix of commercial and residential and not all of us live in
high-rises around here and are very vulnerable," spokesman Peter Matthews said.

Smith Street business network spokeswoman Myrto Aretakis said the report
addressed its main concern of nearness to retail and other businesses.

In Maribyrnong City, the only location in Melbourne's west to be considered
for an injecting room, community groups remain opposed.

"We do not want to become the heroin capital of western Victoria," said
spokeswoman for Footscray Matters, Carole Demirdjian.

The Penington report cited the Maribyrnong area as having the second lowest
level of community support at 57.1per cent, but in the City of Greater
Dandenong, which was lowest at 45.5per cent, residents are urging the
council to trial an injecting room in the area.

"The council haven't made a decision yet but we urge them go ahead with a
trial," said Eddie Micallef, chairman of the Springvale drug action committee.

The Australian Retailers Association yesterday said the Penington report
should safeguard retailers and the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce
and Industry has endorsed implementation of an 18-month trial.