By Natalie Gallenti
PARENTS from Albion Primary School are calling on Brimbank Council to close down a laneway, which they describe as a ‘hot spot’ for drug users.
Concerned parents have organised a petition asking the council to shut down the small laneway located behind the school, and have already received an overwhelming response from the tight-knit community.
However, the group may have a tough battle on their hands as the council has thwarted two previous attempts to close the area.
Albion Primary School principal Matt Coughlan said on any given Monday he would arrive at the school grounds to find as many as 10 syringes scattered in the laneway or even on the school grounds.
“The whole issue is about safety for our students,” Mr Coughlan said.
He said staff, parents and students had been educated on the dangers of handling syringes and have been forced to take on the responsibility of scouring the area each day.
Only last week he handed over a full sharps container to the council.
And while the school had contacted Sunshine police on numerous occasions, Mr Coughlan said “users” were often gone within minutes of having their fix and were never apprehended.
Mr Coughlan, who has been the principal at the school for the past five years, said residents had even witnessed people “shooting up” in the lane, which is situated across from Albion Kindergarten.
Melissa Callaway has two children at the school, and said she was “mortified” when she found out her son had seen a syringe.
A member of the parents committee, Ms Callaway has spent countless hours door knocking and standing outside the school grounds with the help of another concerned parent Paula Bissett.
“The only way to solve the problem is to close down the laneway.
“School is meant to be a safe place.
“We should be protecting our young children. Let’s keep their innocence.”
Ms Bissett said she was disappointed youngsters being exposed to the drug epidemic so early on.
“It’s not just about students, but also the kids who spend their weekends riding their bikes or scooters around there.”
Ms Bissett’s worries are compounded by the fact that her daughter has autism. She is in constant fear that the Prep student will pick up a needle despite everyone’s best efforts to educate her of the dangers.
Sen Sgt Les Hutchinson from Sunshine police said laneways were often dark and isolated which meant they were popular spots for illegal activity.
Sen Sgt Hutchinson encouraged residents to monitor the time when this activity was taking place and report it, so they could patrol the area at more appropriate times.
Kelly Grigsby, Brimbank Council general manager community wellbeing, said after a recent investigation the council had concluded that the laneway would remain open to facilitate the connection between Albury and Derrimut streets, and to allow access to both the school and train station.
She said the laneway was a highly utilised pedestrian link, with at least 100 pedestrians using it on a daily basis.
The council has a weekly syringe cleansing patrol of the area and responds to reports made relating to discarded syringes.
