Drouin still waiting on 24 hour police station

Almost two years after a petition called for a new 24-hour police station in Drouin, the growing community is still waiting.

Last week’s state budget failed to allocate funds for a new police station but Eastern region superintendent Mick West is confident it is “in the mix.”

Despite staff resources almost doubling at the station in the past four years, a new station has not been funded.

Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood led a petition in January 2018 calling for a new station to allow for more police to be based at the station

At the time, the state opposition identified a new station as a priority with the then shadow police and community safety minister Edward O’Donohue saying the current station was “past its use-by date.”

Mr Blackwood has been lobbying for a new station for the past two years, saying a new station was needed to prepare for extra staff with the priority being a 24-hour station.

When the station failed to attract funding last week, Mr Blackwood said officers were working in cramped conditions.

“More needs to be done by the Andrews Labor Government to support their efforts and protect our community,” he said.

Supt West said the station had grown from one sergeant and five senior constables in 2016 to two sergeants and nine senior constables this year.

He said there was now a 24-hour response in Drouin and for the first time, a divisional van was now working from Drouin.

“This is a significant increase in capacity for this station.  We are looking to deliver a high quality, flexible and rapid response.

“Victoria Police are always looking for opportunities to improve the way we deliver services to the community.

“We are cognisant of people out on the road delivering the service and to that end we have upped our numbers in recent years,” he said.

Supt West said renovations were currently being done at the station to cater for the extra resources allocated this year.

“However, the force command is always re-evaluating where we need new buildings and Drouin is part of that mix,” he said.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said she had raised the Drouin Police Station with Police Minister Lisa Neville who was “well aware” of the need in Drouin.

She said police infrastructure projects were funded and rolled out according to police priorities and recommendations from the police commissioner.

Ms Shing said there was a significant set of challenges around Drouin.

“Population is increased and that is not unique in these peri-urban areas,” she said.

Ms Shing said the government would continue to fund infrastructure according to police priorities.