NSW Labor has questioned the announcement to place a new police station on the existing site at Goulburn.
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Concerns in the community were raised after the Liberals and Nationals announced that a new police station would be built in Goulburn.
The announcement was made after a Police Attestation Parade on February 22.
In a statement on that day, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the Liberals-led NSW Government would grant $100 million to build or upgrade stations across the state.
"The funding will be used to build new police stations in Goulburn, Bega and Jindabyne, and carry out major police station upgrades at Bathurst and Bourke," Ms Berejiklian said.
The Premier confirmed in an interview that the current police station in Goulburn would be replaced by a new one.
When a spokesperson for Police Minister Troy Grant was asked where the new station would be built the answer was: "on the existing site."
The announcement created some concerns in Goulburn, with Goulburn Heritage Group member David Penalver writing to the Goulburn Post and saying: "The proposed demolition of the current Goulburn Police Station precinct beggars belief in a city proud of its long history. Goulburn’s second Hospital, built in 1849, is part of this heritage building complex.
"None of the buildings are falling down, although they may not be ‘fit for purpose’ in today’s digital age. The solution is to find new uses for these well-designed old buildings and a new site for a modern Police Station designed to blend into Goulburn’s built heritage streetscape," Mr Penalver wrote.
When he was in Goulburn on February 28, NSW Shadow Minister for Police Guy Zangari MP said the announcement about the new police station may have been made without proper consultation.
"I can say this is a magnificent heritage precinct of Goulburn and the announcement comes without proper consultation," Mr Zangari said.
"You can't simply put a police station into a precinct that is heritage listed. There needs to be consideration to that - that there are sensitivities around it.
"The State Government needs to be honest and open about what consultation they undertook with the local police regarding the new police station.
"There is no doubt that Goulburn needs a new police station. I have spoken to the police association - there are cracks in the walls and real security concerns around the precinct - but to simply announce it without looking at the sensitivities around such a historical site is leaves you bewildered."
Regarding matching the $100 million in funding, Mr Zangari said a Labor Government would deliver a costed $80 million upgrade for new police stations across the state.
"As part of our Safe Communities Package, a future Daley Labor Government will has committed and a fully costed $80 million for the upgrades of police stations as well as looking at the well-being of officers," Mr Zangari said.
"If the state government has committed $100 million, and if there is a further $20 million fully costed and budgeted, then a future Labor Daley Government would consider using those funds - why not?
"Hopefully that money is there and they haven't just plucked it out of the air."
Labor candidate Dr Ursula Stephens said the Hume Local Area Command is a huge area.
"We have spoken to the officers who work in it - their resources are completely stretched," Dr Stephens said.
"They need more support and more people on the ground to support them."
David Cole
Journalist at the Goulburn Post
Journalist at the Goulburn Post
