SINGLE BODY TO TACKLE DRUGS

GREATER Dandenong Council will form a single advisory committee to
tackle drug and alcohol issues in the city from early 2008.

The move is the result of a review of three local drug action
committees in Dandenong, Noble Park-Keysborough and Springvale.

A report to council on Monday night by social development manager Mark
Patterson said having three separate drug action committees was
placing a strain on community representatives who had to attend each
committee's meeting.

Forming a single committee will force the current committees to
fold.

But the report said a single committee would reduce the likelihood of
drug and alcohol services duplicating projects, as is a risk under
three committees.

The move did not sit well with Keysborough Ward councillor Roz Blades
who questioned the council's motives for cutting back from three
committees to one.

Cr Blades also asked why there was emphasis on the single committee
advising the council on drug and alcohol matters when existing drug
alcohol committees had maintained an open line of communication with
the council.

Noble Park Ward councillor Pinar Yesil said she feared Noble Park
could be left in the dark compared to other suburbs without a specific
drug action committee to represent the township.

But their arguments were not enough to convince their colleagues to
vote against the single advisory committee.

Of the 11 councillors, only Cr Blades, Cr Yesil and mayor Youhorn Chea
were opposed.

Council community services director June Dugina told councillors that
Greater Dandenong had fallen to 29th of 78 local government areas
regarding drug problems.

"But (drugs) are not off the agenda, we will still keep our eye on the
ball," she said in reference to the new committee.