Push for police station CBD site

CAIRNS councillors are having another crack at convincing the State Government the planned $4.5 million Gordonvale police station should be located in the small town’s CBD and not its western outskirts.

But the renewed push has already be shot down by the Far North’s top cop and the State Government, who said the Draper St site was chosen to “best service the needs of the Gordonvale community into the future”.

At yesterday’s meeting, councillors voted unanimously to send a second letter to the State Government, after its initial call for a CBD station was knocked back.

Division 1 councillor Brett Moller abstained from the vote because he owns property in the Gordonvale town centre.

Mayor Bob Manning said the council had an agenda to revitalise outlying communities where possible.

“When we came into this election we said we were prepared to make special cases for Babinda and Gordonvale townships,” he said.

“Those shopping areas needed to be given some help.

“It would seem to us to make sense that we might stretch some of our controls for Gordonvale and Babinda to try and enliven the town centres.”

Cr Manning said the council had no preferred site for the new station, but had offered the State Government one field from Alley Park on Sheppard St. That site had previously been gifted to the council from the State Government and was masterplanned for a sporting field.

Assistant Commissioner Paul Taylor said the 6000sq m Draper St location on the opposite side of the highway was chosen because it would provide better policing deployment for the area.

“It’s not a government decision, the government just listens to police operations,” he said. “I understand the council is trying to build support for the CBD traders.

“But I think it’s still the case that police working out of the Draper St complex will no doubt shop locally.”

Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt said the council had failed to raise its concerns during earlier consultation.

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

“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.”

IT’S NOT A GOVERNMENT DECISION, THE GOVERNMENT JUST LISTENS TO POLICE OPERATIONS