Yarra City Council has reversed its long-standing support for the location of the North Richmond safe injecting room, voting to formally advocate for the state government to move the facility.

The last-minute decision was made during an at-times heated council meeting on Tuesday night. A surprise alternative motion that was not included in the public council documents ahead of the meeting, moved by independent councillor Evangeline Aston, passed 6-2, effectively tearing up the council’s previous position.

Yarra Mayor Stephen Jolly told The Age on Wednesday the council wanted the injecting facility moved from its current site at the North Richmond Community Health centre, which sits next to Richmond West Primary School and a high-rise public housing estate.

He suggested new locations

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