Eight-year-olds ‘delivering drugs’

Children as young as eight are using and delivering drugs in Withers, according to a report presented to the Bunbury City Council this week.

The shocking claim is just one of several issues identified during a workshop coordinated by the Withers Advisory Committee.

Other issues identified during the Withers Youth Workshop included claims that 12 to 17-year-olds are using hard drugs, people are living with siblings and adults who are using and delivering drugs and evidence of antisocial behaviour, bullying, suicide and alcohol problems.

South West police, the Goomburrup Aboriginal Corporation, church groups, the Withers community and PCYC members along with committee members took part in the workshop.

The committee is asking the council to approve $115,000 from the Withers Reserve to tackle the issues, but several councillors have raised concerns saying the problems are more widespread than just one suburb.

One Bunbury-based counsellor says the claims are a real concern and is calling for a community-wide effort to fight the drug scourge.

Bunbury private practice counsellor Bev Morton told theSouth Western Times she had heard suggestions that younger people were getting involved in drugs.

“It sounds as though there are real reasons to be concerned,” she said.

“Children should not be exposed to that side of the world at such a young age — that underbelly, if you like, of the drug and alcohol culture.”

Ms Morton agreed with councillor concerns, saying it was not just Withers which was experiencing disturbing drug issues, but the entire Bunbury community.

Councillor and Withers Advisory Committee chairman James Hayward said the suburb was the toughest area for children and should be a priority.

“It’s extra difficult in Withers, that’s the reality — you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out,” he said.

“The challenges for eight to 12-year-olds in Withers are significantly higher than any other community in Bunbury.”

Cr Hayward said the committee had “kicked some goals” in terms of redeveloping the suburb, but there had been an ongoing desire to tackle the “terrible” social issues.

“At the moment we’re not sure what that money could be used for on the ground, but we’ll work with the organisations who have the expertise and start putting some things in place,” he said.

“Primarily it’s about identifying and putting some programs in place targeted at older primary school children walking the streets at night and things like that.”

Mayor Gary Brennan said the council had a role in helping the significant social challenges at Withers, but that role still needed to be determined.

He said concerns raised by councillors during a briefing session were “legitimate”.

“If the City of Bunbury is going to get involved in funding such activities we would have to look at the whole community,” he said.

The council is due to make a decision on the funding next week.