Police stations across our state will be a hive of construction as the Andrews Labor Government runs an unprecedented program to build modern, safer facilities for police in every corner of Victoria.
Visiting Wedderburn today, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Victoria Danielle Green announced the town’s police station will be replaced to give local officers a safer base as they fight crime in the local community.
As part of a record $2 billion investment in police – which is funding an additional 2,729 frontline police – the Labor Government will replace other regional stations in Warracknabeal, Rutherglen, Alexandra, Wycheproof and Tangambalanga.
New metropolitan stations will also replace outdated facilities in Wyndham, Altona North, Reservoir and South Melbourne.
The Labor Government’s program of upgrades and replacements is already underway with a pipeline of more than 40 new facilities, police station replacements and refurbishments.
As part of the $596 million Public Safety Package announced in the Victorian Budget 2016/17, more than 30 regional stations are being upgraded, replaced or refurbished.
This includes outdated stations at Colac, Murtoa, Bright, Warburton, Mallacoota, Cowes and Corryong, which are being replaced – while a number of refurbishments are already underway.
Ten police residences across Victoria are also being replaced or refurbished to better support police officers living and working in regional towns. As part of the crackdown on ice, two new forensic hubs will be established in regional Victoria to target the proliferation of ice and other drugs.
In Metropolitan Melbourne work is already underway on a $15 million station in Mernda, which was funded in the Labor Government’s first budget.
The investment in regional policing comes as the Government backs Victoria Police with the largest single investment in the history of the force – with a pipeline of 3,135 new police being recruited.
A sophisticated new Staff Allocation Model (SAM) will give police greater control over resourcing and deployment into the future.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Police Lisa Neville
“People depend on their local police station, and that’s why we’re replacing these outdated facilities to support community safety into the future.”
“We are also funding thousands of additional frontline police for our growth areas.”
Quotes attributable to Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Victoria Danielle Green
“Right across Victoria – in regional towns and our fast growing suburbs – we are giving police the facilities they need to fight crime and keep local communities safe.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020