Senior Sergeant Shane keogh, who is also on the Western Region Drug and Alcohol centre committee of management, said the Warrnambool and district community was 100 per cent behind the proposed residential rehab centre.

"That's great, we just got to work out where to put it," he said.

Warrnambool councillors voted 4-2 against the centre being located in Dennington after a marathon council meeting on Monday night.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal requested the councillors provide a view after the council originally bypassed that decision.

Senior Sergeant Keogh said The Lookout committee had considered numerous buildings and locations around Warrnambool.

"We've consulted with the Dennington community and they not happy. VCAT will determine what happens but there is a clear and absolute need for a residential rehabilitation facility," he said.

"Recidivist offenders are connected to crime. Alcohol and drugs are causational and play a significant part in our crime.

"A residential rehab centre is a tool to reduce crime.

"When people are into drugs offending goes up. Some will do almost anything to support their habit."

The senior police officer said he did not want to say anything against the Dennington community.

"The whole community has got to work out where the residential rehab centre goes. There's a process and we're happy to work through that," he said.

"I'm hopeful that with the right consultation the current proposal would get up," he said.

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