Perth based WA Substance Users Asso-ciation received funding from the department of health and the sexual health and blood borne viruses program for an expansion of their services to the South West.

WASUA executive officer Mark Lowery said mobile needle exchange services had operated in Bunbury for many years but feedback from service users revealed a fixed site was needed.

It is hoped the centre will be up and running within two weeks.

“Establishing a fixed site in Bunbury will hopefully create a springboard to expand throughout the South West and into the Great Southern,” Mr Lowery said.

Mr Lowery said the Perth needle exchange centre distributes about 1.3 million syringes a year with a return rate of 98 per cent.

“That means there are more than a million used needles not out in circulation to be stepped on or reused.”

He also said the economic benefits to the department of health have proven to be substantial.

“If we can prevent one case of Hepatitis C, we are saving the department of health about $300 for a liver transplant which can be spent on other health services.”

A recent Federal Government study estimated Australian needle and syringe programs have directly averted 32,050 new HIV infections and have saved $1.28 billion in healthcare costs in the last decade.

Mr Lowery said while he has come up against opposition in the past, he was pleased to receive full support from Bunbury council and community.

Mayor David Smith said it was important clean needles were readily available to those that need them.

“The truth is it’s an important part of maintaining control over infectious diseases,” Mayor Smith said.

Mr Lowery visited Bunbury yesterday to survey the new centre’s Spencer Street location.

He said the needle exchange centre would be clinical and discreet as well as easily accessible and among other medical offices.