Case built for new station

By Kath Gannaway
THE new Yarra Junction police station has been framed.
And, according to Police Minister Bob Cameron, it’s perfectly legal.
The Minister, Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato and Yarra Junction senior constables Peter Hamilton and Kevin Bishop, visited the construction site of the $1.3 million project last week.
The new station fulfils an election promise by the State Government to replace the current make-shift station with a modern working environment for the six officers based there.
Mr Cameron and Ms Lobato walked through the new station with the architect and chatted to the builders who are working towards a July handover.
The station will include a reception counter, muster room, watch house, mess room, interview room, Sergeant in Charge office, separate male and female change rooms, property store rooms, a holding cell, a lock-up garage and a 4000 litre water tank.
Described by Mr Cameron as ‘state-of-the-art’, the building incorporates a number of design initiatives aimed at reducing both the environmental impact and operating costs.
Ms Lobato said she was thrilled to see work start on the station which she said would deliver a professional and modern working environment to support police in their job of protecting the community.
Sen Const Peter Hamilton said Yarra Junction officers were looking forward to moving in and said having more space would be the overriding benefit.
“It’s awkward sometimes when you have more than one offender to interview at the one time. Having a holding cell will be so much better,” Sen Const Hamilton said.
Ms Lobato said she was also pleased to see part of the district’s heritage preserved.
Two buildings being used as sheds by the previous owners of the property were the original workmens’ huts from the Upper Yarra Dam construction project.
“Following an agreement with the Upper Yarra Historical Society, the historic huts have been relocated to the local museum,” Ms Lobato said.