Surf club points to needle plan failure

Dalyellup Surf Life Saving Club president Jenaya Bell is disappointed the Capel Shire Council did not consult the club or the public before approving a 12-month trial for a needle exchange program in the area.

The council approved a request from the Western Australia Substance Users Association to park a mobile needle exchange van in two locations in the shire at its April meeting.

Earlier this year, Mrs Bell told the Times she picked up a syringe a week outside the surf club — but said the club was not informed about the recent request to have the exchange van visit the area.

“How they’ve gone about approving it without consulting the club and showing us the evidence, I don’t think it was done the right way,” she said.

Capel shire chief executive Paul Sheedy said community consultation was not carried out because it would have been difficult to get a firm decision.

“It is fair to say the community is divided on it, so you would have expected strong opinions for and against,” he said.

“It’s a service the council feels is important, has some community benefits and they made a decision.”

He said it was seen as a positive step for people to dispose of needles correctly rather than leaving them in beaches or car parks.

Mrs Bell said she had “mixed feelings” on whether the program would reduce the number of syringes found near the club and the issue would be discussed at the club’s May committee meeting.

The approval means the needle exchange van will be able to park for a maximum of two hours each week at two sites in the shire.

The van already operates at several sites across the South West, including Bunbury and the shires of Dardanup and Harvey.

The program offers clean, sterile needles in exchange for used ones with the aim of reducing the transmission of blood-borne viruses.

Mr Sheedy said it was important to let the trial runs its course to assess the full impact of the needle exchange program.