The state government announced of Friday that three drug rehabilitation facilities would be developed in the Barwon, Hume and Gippsland regions to aid communities hardest hit by the ice scourge. In Victoria last year, there were 257 overdose deaths that involved illicit drugs and many more from prescription drugs - and this number continues to rise.

But nearly a year after the state government pledged $6 million to establish a treatment centre in the Grampians region no firm plans, location or further information has been publicly released. Drug rehabilitation advocate Stuart Fenton, whose failed bid to develop a detox centre in Smeaton was met with community furore, said a large percentage of Ballarat addicts were unable to access appropriate treatment.

“There’s definitely a need for rehabilitation facilities in Ballarat. One of the biggest obstacles is getting people (who need treatment) to leave Ballarat as they don’t want to leave their family and support networks,” Mr Fenton said.

“If we had a rehabilitation facility in Ballarat a lot more people would be treated.” 

In June 2016 Hayley McNaughton, a spokeswoman for Minister for Mental Health Martin Foley, told The Courier options for a suitable site were still being examined.

She said it was hoped the new centre will have capacity to treat about 57 clients per year offering treatment for  a range of substance addictions not solely crystal meth.

“Many people requiring alcohol and drug residential rehabilitation are poly-drug users, they use a number of substances,” Ms McNaughton said.

“This is particularly true of people using ice, who often use in conjunction with alcohol and other substances.”  

On Friday, Ms McNaughton simply said: “The government is finalising details regarding the location of the facility and will have more to say in coming weeks”.

Member for Western Victoria Josh Morris said the government had “failed in addressing the scourge of ice in the Ballarat community” by not announcing a local facility for the community.

“It’s terribly disappointing that despite (Friday’s) announcement Ballarat families suffering from the scourge of ice are not going to  have the care they need to assist them.” 

The government said the 30 new rehabilitation beds opened would support more than 80 patients a year with treatment places and counselling services for 2800 also funded under the announcement.