Single body to tackle drugs

– Shaun Inguanzo
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.