THE state government has committed to establishing an ice centre in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Health District.
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But following last Thursday night’s ice forum in Bomaderry calls were made for a drug rehabilitation centre to be established in the Shoalhaven.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward said the government had committed to an ice centre in the local health district and he was awaiting a response from the health department on a timeline for the project.
“There is definitely need for it in the area without a doubt – the more services to support people who are prepared to come off these drugs the better,” he said.
Local mother Tracy Reece, whose son is an ice addict, said a local centre was needed.
“Hopefully through these forums our local politicians will see and hear there is a huge need for such a unit right here in the Shoalhaven,” she said.
“We got our son into a centre in Canberra but there was a three week wait and they have to be [off the drugs] when they go there. We got him to within a day of being in and the lure of drugs was too much and he walked out.
“A local centre would have been a huge advantage in getting him the help he needed.”
Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash said a local unit was an “absolute necessity”.
“Having a rehabilitation unit in our area is not something to be embarrassed about,” she said.
“We all need to combine our efforts to ensure it happens.
“I’m very supportive of any move to get some sort of rehab centre locally.
“The community has shown what it can do with the linear accelerator appeal and this is something else we need to consider.”
Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis said her submission to the National Ice Task Force had a strong emphasis on finding local solutions and supporting existing services in the area, such as rehabilitation clinics, hospitals and police forces.
“The Watershed in the Illawarra is one centre we could certainly model a local service on or even become an arm of,” she said.
“It is currently funded 80 per cent by the state and 20 per cent by the federal government.
“I have spoken to assistant minister for health Senator Fiona Nash, who has the drug and alcohol portfolio and asked her to investigate what can happen.”
