The chair of the Mooroopna Community Plan Steering Committee says without adequate staffing, the modern station, which was built in 2013 at a cost of $1.8m, “can’t do the job it was designed to do”.
The committee has called on Victorian Minister for Police Anthony Carbines to visit the town and for a commitment to properly staffing the facility.
“Mooroopna is growing, and with that growth comes increased demand for visible policing, community engagement and crime prevention,” Mr Farren-Parnell said.
“Right now, the community is not getting the full benefit of that investment.”
He believes the issue reflects a broader challenge facing regional communities, where infrastructure investment is not always matched with ongoing resourcing.
“Buildings and infrastructure of this sort don’t keep people safe on their own,” Mr Farren-Parnell said.
“We need a visible, consistent police presence to deliver real impact for our communities’ safety.”
The formal invitation to Mr Carbines is to inspect the station and talk directly with local residents and stakeholders.
“There is no substitute for seeing the reality on the ground,” Mr Farren-Parnell said.
“This is an opportunity to understand both the potential of this facility and the gap that currently exists.”
Mr Farren-Parnell said the issue was about fairness for regional communities.
The committee is advocating to secure investment in core services and infrastructure in Mooroopna with an upcoming Victorian election.
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