By Mara Pattison-Sowden
WARBURTON Police Station would step into the 21st century with a $2 million rebuild if the Brumby Government is re-elected.
The existing police station in Station Road is an old portable building that was erected in the 1980s with no secure compound to hold criminals.
Police Minister James Merlino was at Warburton Police Station on Friday 5 October with Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato to announce that, if re-elected, Warburton would get a $2 million state-of-the-art police station.
Mr Merlino said the upgrade was vital to meet the growing needs of the Yarra Ranges community.
“This is part of the biggest rebuild in the history of the state, and Tammy (Lobato) has been a massive advocate for this project,” he said.
Ms Lobato said the rebuild would make the station more secure, give it larger operational and storage areas, and better access for people with disabilities.
“This will give our local police the best in modern policing facilities to better protect the local community.”
Ms Lobato said a new station would also have the capacity for an emergency management facility for bushfires and search-and-rescue operations.
Mr Merlino said Victoria Police would decide whether the Warburton station would be rebuilt on the existing site or on a new site within the community.
Liberal candidate for Gembrook Brad Battin said the Liberal Coalition had committed to 1600 more frontline police to be stationed throughout Victoria.
“We will work with police command to ensure areas like Warburton and Yarra Junction have the required level of staff for the area,” he said.
