By Marcus Uhe
Police Minster Lisa Neville has conceded that the 24-hour police station promised for Clyde North will not meet its 2022 completion date promised in the lead-up to the 2018 State Election.
At Public Accounts and Estimates Committee inquiry into 2022-23 Budget Estimates on Wednesday 18 May, Minister Neville said land had yet not been purchased for the station.
“We have now found a piece of land which we believe we will sign the contract for in June this year and that the station will be completed by about June 2025,” Ms Neville said.
“One of the issues with these growth corridors is that there is often difficulty in actually finding land that’s available.
“It’s a growth corridor and we absolutely need to have a police station out there, no question.”
When asked about the duration of the build, the minister said it would take three years to design and construct the station.
Shadow Minister for Police Brad Battin said the concession proved that Labor is more about spin, than safety.
“It is appalling the Andrews Labor Government have failed our area when it comes to community safety,” Mr Battin said.
“You can’t promise the community a new 24-hour police station by 2022 in a media release, and then fail to even buy the block of land.
“This is just more spin from Labor when it comes to excuses for not delivering, thousands of houses,
new businesses and even a new massive Bunnings all found land.
“If the Andrews Labor Government really wanted to deliver for Clyde North, they would have.
“The only way to see a new police station delivered is to vote Liberal at the next state election and
change the government.”
$34 million has been allocated for its construction, a State Government spokesperson said.
