The campaign for a police station in Mernda/Doreen is gaining momentum following a meeting last week of Labor MPs, Whittlesea council officers and community members.
Opposition police spokesman Wade Noonan, Yan Yean MP Danielle Green (Labor) and staff from the council’s planning department met at council offices to discuss the possibility of a police station in the Whittlesea police service area.
Following the meeting, Ms Green, who is the opposition spokeswoman on prevention of family violence, and Mr Noonan met campaigner Tom Joseph and representatives from the Mernda and District Residents Association who made the group’s case for the establishment of a police station based on the groundswell of popularity for its Facebook campaign.
The “Mernda Needs a Police Station” Facebook group was created three months ago and already has more than 4200 “likes,” making it one of the most popular community campaigns in Victoria, Mr Joseph claimed. More than 2000 Mernda and Doreen residents have also signed a petition launched two weeks ago calling for a 24-hour police station.
At the first of the two meetings council chief executive David Turnbull, advocacy and communications director Griff Davis and acting general manager (advocacy) Mary Agostino discussed with Mr Noonan and Ms Green a joint council and Victoria Police research report on policing needs in the area.
Based on their research and in response to predicted population growth for the area, Whittlesea council is seeking funding in the 2014-15 state budget to buy land and build a police station in Mernda/Doreen.
Mr Noonan said he would try to convince the shadow treasurer to fund the station.
“This is a compelling case and this will certainly be considered within Labor’s policy development process which is under way,” Mr Noonan told the Weekly.
However, Mr Joseph said no promises were made. Instead Mr Noonan told him Labor would not make any assurances until the official November election campaign kicked off and costed policies could be announced.
Police and Emergency Services Minister Kim Wells did not respond to the Weekly’s calls for comment by deadline.
