MEMBER for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy has called on the Victorian Government to commit to funding a drug detox centre in Premier Daniel Andrews’ hometown of Wangaratta.
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Mr McCurdy told the Victorian Parliament on Tuesday the growing ice problem in the North-East was so bad action had to be taken immediately.
“The methamphetamine, or more widely known as ice, situation is growing rapidly in regional Victoria,” he said.
“It has been revealed that Wangaratta has an ambulance call out rate higher per capita than larger centres like Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.
"Or a massive 33 per 100,000 head of population."
Mr McCurdy said governments had to act before the situation reached epidemic proportions.
“Will the minister commit to establishing a drug detox centre in Wangaratta to assist our families and communities who are actively seeking to detox from ice and other drugs?” he said in parliament.
Mr McCurdy said he was deeply concerned by recently released figures highlighting Wangaratta.
“I continue to hear from families and local organisations about the impact ice is having in our communities,” he said.
“This is an issue that, through the flow-one effects, can touch the lives of all of us.
“It is time for the government to commit the funding to a drug detox facility in Wangaratta.”
Mr McCurdy's push was supported by one of his harshest critics, former Wangaratta councillor, Dr Julian Fidge.
Dr Fidge has seen first hand the impacts of ice and also provides medical services to the Odyssey House rehab centre at Molyullah.
"We definitely need detox up here," he said.
"As a medical practitioner who works in the field, I would be willing to work at a detox facilitiy.
"At the moment people have to travel to Melbourne for detox."
Mr Andrews travelled to Wangaratta this year to announce the $45.5 million Ice Action Plan that includes $18 million dedicated exclusively to regional rehab models.
