The number of discarded syringes in Brimbank is raising alarm bells.
In the 2016-17 financial year the council picked up 559 syringes discarded in parks, reserves and public places. In just seven months for the 2017-18 financial year that number has almost tripled, with 1443 syringes picked up.
Cr Lucinda Congreve has called on the council to look at new ways to address the problem.
“This is a growing issue and we need to get on the front foot and come up with a strategy,” she said.
“In 2017-18 to January, the total sat at 1443 – that’s three times the amount we picked up the year before in just a seven-month period,” Cr Congreve said.
“These are big jumps and this is just council pick-ups, not members of the community doing a service.”
Cr Congreve said public requests to the council to pick up syringes had also spiked.
“In 2016-17 we had 290 requests. This year to-date we’ve had 302, so we’ve already received more than last year and we’ve still got months to go.
“This … is about coming to the table and getting some information on current trends on this issue.
“Let’s talk about our role in terms of picking up syringes and how other government and community departments can help us and co-ordinate better responses.”
At last week’s council meeting, councillors unanimously passed a motion by Cr Congreve to have a council officer prepare a report outlining the council’s role concerning discarded syringes.
The report will also include the role of the Victorian government, community health and other service providers and provide recommendations on how to improve the council’s response to the issue.
The report is expected to be tabled at the council’s August meeting.
