By ALESHA CAPONE
BRIMBANK City Council has taken action to crack down on drug-taking and discarded syringes in a Sunshine laneway.
Last year in July, Star reported a laneway running parallel to Graham St had become a haunt for drug activity.
A mother, who asked not to be named, told Star she had witnessed people “shooting up” in the alley and leaving needles strewn across the grounded.
However last week, the mother said problems in the laneway had lessened since the council installed a gate, restricting access to a concealed area in the alley.
“I haven’t heard of anyone in the laneway since the gate was installed,” the mother said.
“But I did have one of the neighbours saying a syringe had been stabbed into the fence, like a knife.”
A Brimbank City Council spokesman said in response to syringes being discarded in the laneway, the council has “realigned fencing to remove an alcove in the laneway which created a secluded area”.
“The council is monitoring the impact of this change by the number of syringes being discarded,” he said.
“The council has responded to discarded syringes in this laneway six times in the past year.
“Responding quickly to reports of discarded syringes is a priority.
“The council endeavours to respond to reports of discarded syringes which pose a health risk within 30 minutes during business hours, and within an hour after business hours.
The spokesman said dumped syringes “are an ongoing problem” within the municipality.
When Star visited Graham St last week, a different laneway running off the street – between Derby Rd and Durham Rd – had five syringes discarded in it.
The Graham St mother told Star she has warned school children away from the local laneways, because of dropped needles.
“The lanes are bad everywhere in Sunshine – it’s a constant problem,” she said.
Residents who spot a syringe can contact the council on 9249 4000.
