The Latrobe Health Assembly has congratulated proponents of the Hope Restart Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre in Lucknow but says the Latrobe Valley still needs a similar centre.
In April last year the state government announced $9.72 million to buy land in Gippsland to build an 18-bed residential drug rehabilitation facility.
A coalition of Latrobe Valley health and community organisations joined forces to campaign for the centre to be built in the Latrobe Valley.
However, the state government decided to a community-led project at Lucknow, near Bairnsdale, which had already obtained council planning approvals, building permission and had already attracted $3 million in federal funding, secured the state government funding instead. LHA chair John Catford said the state government’s decision to fund the Lucknow project, known as the Hope Restart Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre, was a “great step towards meeting the region’s need for comprehensive alcohol and drug treatment services”.
“Although the funding of the Hope Restart Centre shows the need in Gippsland is starting to be recognised, the Latrobe Health Assembly is hopeful this is the first step of many,” he said.
“Data from Turning Point’s AOD stats shows the Latrobe Valley is the epicentre of illicit drug dependencies in Gippsland.
“In 2014/15, 722 episodes of care were provided to people in Latrobe with illicit drug dependencies, including ice.
“This is more than two-and-a-half times more than the next closest Gippsland local government area.”
Professor Catford said that while a range of treatments and supports for alcohol and drug use existed in the area, a residential rehabilitation centre was the “missing service”.
“We believe the Latrobe Valley needs such a facility if, as Australia’s first Health Innovation Zone, we are to plan for and deliver better health outcomes,” he said.
“The Latrobe Health Assembly takes heart from the Minister’s comments on radio that the government is open to further discussions on this topic and the needs of Gippsland.
“The Latrobe Health Assembly looks forward to continuing this conversation.”
