The campaign to repurpose Banksia Mental Health Unit as a drug and alcohol detoxification facility is moving forward with the launch of an e-petition in the NSW Parliament.

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said the petition will send a strong message to the government that this community wants the Banksia unit to be repurposed as a drug and alcohol detoxification facility.

 “There is significant unmet need for detoxification services in Tamworth and the Northwest which makes accessing help a major challenge for patients, family, carers and local support networks when managing someone’s withdrawal from drugs or alcohol,” Mr Anderson said.

 “That is why our community is pushing for the existing Banksia Mental Health Unit to be kept in public hands and repurposed as a drug and alcohol detoxification unit. I’m calling on the government to look at a potential operating model where the government refurbishes the building and then engages a non-government organisation to provide the service.”

 The petition, calls on the government to:

1. Retain the former Banksia facility in public hands for the purposes of a drug and alcohol detoxification unit

2. Provide the funds necessary to refurbish the unit and ensure it is a clinical, modern, culturally appropriate unit for patients to receive detoxification services.

 “The new Tamworth Mental Health Unit is now finished, and patients are expected to be transferred to the new unit very soon. The push is now on to ensure that Banksia unit is kept in public hands and repurposed as a drug and alcohol detoxification facility,” Mr Anderson added.

 “It is a fit-for-purpose, clinical environment that could be refurbished for a fraction of the cost of a new unit, so it makes good sense for the government to listen to our community.”

 The petition is open until 11 September can be signed online at https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/parliamentary-business/petitions/sign-epetition?epetitionId=817&ref=10902