Gungahlin could be home to a new police station and emergency services centre if the Canberra Liberals are elected later this month.
The Canberra Liberals announced the plan this morning, promising to deliver a new centre for emergency services and expand and upgrade the existing police station.
The Liberals say the existing joint emergency services centre in the area is used for police, firefighting and ambulance operations and argue the facility is too small.
“Gungahlin is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia. Services need to grow with the community,” said Canberra Liberals leader Alistair Coe.
The Canberra Liberals earlier this week promised $55 million for 130 more police officers in the ACT and $45 million for 100 more firefighters and have promised a new police station and fire and ambulance station for Molonglo.
ACT Labor says work has already commenced on the design for a new fire and ambulance station for Molonglo and the party has already budgeted for a further 60 ACT Policing personnel by 2023.
The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) has welcomed the commitment for more officers from the Liberals, as well as the station for Molonglo. The union also criticised the number of police officers in the Territory.
“The ACT has the lowest number of police officers per 100,000 people in Australia,” said AFPA president Alex Caruana. “We want to see the ACT figure increase from the current 205 officers to 278 officers per 100,000 people, which is the current Australian average.”
“More officers on the ground and available to work within the roster pattern will hopefully
see a reduction in overtime expenditure. A benefit is that funds may be diverted into other
areas such as restorative justice, diversion and engagement strategies that benefit the
community.”
The announcements come after a stabbing death in Weston Creek has shone a light on residents’ concerns about community safety and policing numbers.
