The Yarra City Council made a significant decision yesterday, opting to retract its longstanding endorsement of the North Richmond Medically Supervised Injection Room (MSIR).

Mayor Stephen Jolly acknowledged the council’s support for the concept of supervised injection services but criticized the current location of the facility, describing it as “the worst possible place.”

Jolly expressed concern that the facility has not effectively aided the community, stating it has become “just a dumping ground for drug users.”

In response, Simone Heald, the chief executive of the safe injecting room, argued that the council’s decision reflects a “fundamental misunderstanding” of the community’s needs.

Heald emphasized that the facility is strategically located in an area that has been central to Melbourne’s drug market for many years, underscoring its importance according to the North Richmond Community Health chief executive.

“The Medically Supervised Injecting Room operates where Melbourne’s drug market has existed for decades,” the North Richmond Community Health chief executive said.

”With more than half a million visits and more than 11,000 overdoses managed without a single death, it has established itself as one of the world’s busiest and most effective supervised injecting facilities.”