Kealy: Police need for station upgrade

Funding for regional police stations is back in the spotlight with Member for Lowan Emma Kealy again calling on the State Government to provide money for redevelopment projects.

Ms Kealy said Horsham, Hamilton and Coleraine police stations were in urgent need to be either replaced or upgraded.

“I call on the Labor government to release vital funds,” she said.

“The outdated and undersized Horsham Police Station, including the court house precinct, requires funding for the development of a master plan.”

Ms Kealy said Hamilton and Coleraine stations were also in dire need of attention.

“The Hamilton building is significantly restricting the ability of police to manage interaction with the community. Cells are in an unacceptable condition to hold suspects under arrest for more than a few hours,” she said.

“The Coleraine station is past its use-by date and needs replacing to meet modern service demands and security requirements.”

The demands follow Ms Kealy’s call on the State Government last year to detail its plans to redevelop police stations across the Lowan electorate.

Funding was forthcoming for new stations at Murtoa and Warracknabeal.

“Our hard-working police officers do an outstanding job with extremely limited resources and are doing their utmost to protect our people, uphold the law and ensure safe communities,” Ms Kealy said.

“It is essential the government provides suitable premises to give our police the best possible opportunity to tackle the climbing crime rate in regional Victoria.

“Regional Victoria faces a greater challenge to recruit and retain police.

“Therefore, it is essential that our country stations and officers be provided with quality facilities.”