Speculation continues over location of Melbourne's second safe injecting room

Local traders have slammed a proposed location for a safe injecting room in Melbourne's CBD.

9News understands the Salvation Army building on Bourke Street is one of several locations being considered by the state government.

Advocates believe the location would be optimal, being close to social services and assistance.

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Vice-president of the Australian Hotels Association and owner of the Elephant & Wheelbarrow hotel Mark O'Reilly was shocked by the news.

"I can't believe we would have an injecting room in the middle of the city," he said.

"It's such a busy precinct.

"It should be in a controlled medical facility versus in the middle of Melbourne's main strip, which is Bourke Street."

O'Reilly said the facility should be located near a hospital.

"I don't think it should be in the city. It should be near a medical facility where they are medically trained to deal with this, not in the CBD," he said.

"Tourists come to Melbourne, we have hotels nearby, main train station nearby and I don't think it is viable.

"We strongly object to the proposal of having it in the city."

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That was backed by Sebastian Giacobello, who operates American Tailors on Bourke Street.

"I agree with the concept but do I want it in my backyard? No," he said.

"There are cafes and shops. It doesn't work and it will only get worse here.

"Something like that will deter people."

Victoria's first medically supervised injecting room in North Richmond became a permanent service earlier this year.

Plans for a second safe injecting room in Melbourne were raised back in 2020, after an independent review of Victoria's first medically supervised injecting room trial.

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Advocates believe the facility is needed in the city and would save lives.

"The population in the city is fluid and damaged. I would like to see the report," overdose prevention campaigner Christopher Lamb said.

"It makes sense to be located near social services.

"The more you can centralise the support services people need, the better."

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Lord Mayor Sally Capp told 3AW this morning that having no clear decision made was "highly damaging".

"The angst and the anxiety that comes from all of the rumours, and the rumour mill, is overwhelming for so many traders," she said.

Labor MP Ben Carroll said there a final decision hadn't yet been made on where the second facility would be.

"We know safe injecting rooms are an important element in our health response to people with different types of addictions," he said.

"The evidence is in loud and clear they save lives, they are a very important mechanism to giving people the support they deserve."

The state government has advised a decision on the location will be made in the coming weeks, with former top cop Ken Lay conducting an independent consultation into the idea.

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