Police station stoush too late

A POLITICAL schism has formed over plans to move the Gordonvale Police Station out of town amid claims the state government is defending itself against unlikely terror attack.

Cairns Regional Council has objected to the proposed new home on the edge of a sugarcane farm on Draper Rd, on the opposite side of the Bruce Hwy to the township.

Mayor Bob Manning said the Queensland Government did not want the police and fire station beside each other.

“Apparently, that’s in case of a terrorist attack so the two don’t get taken out together,” he said.

“I doubt that Cairns will be the top of their list. It doesn’t seem to worry the army base and the air force base in Townsville, so it’s hard to see any great reason for it.”

The council preferred a site on Shepherd St, but technical works at the Draper Rd site are already completed with the $4.5 million project’s construction going out to tender soon.

The council has likely left its 11-hour opposition too late with Treasurer Curtis Pitt saying yesterday’s formal rejection was the first time he had heard of the issue.

“We had a number of discussions with council on a variety of site options, so they’ve had plenty of opportunity to raise any issues or concerns,” he said.

“When it comes to emergency responses and town planning, I choose to trust the experts.

“Having direct access to the highway will allow police to more easily travel north or south without incurring delays on streets within the Gordonvale township.

“In an emergency situation every second counts.”

Mr Pitt said the location took into account residential growth predicted on the western side of the highway.

But Cr Manning said consultation had been minimal.

“It takes a government service out of the town centre and places it on the western side of the highway, impacting the integrity of the town centre and fragmenting local emergency services,” he said.