Ballina Electorate Media Releases
Page Demands Action on Fixing Ballina Police Station ( 19/06/2008)
Ballina MP, Don Page has called on the NSW Labor Government to urgently find the funds required to rectify the structural deficiencies at Ballina Police Station.
An OH&S risk assessment led to a direction from Work Cover that the charge room and cell complex at the Ballina Police Station be closed. The closure of these facilities means that Ballina Police officers are now required to transport offenders to Lismore for processing.
“The NSW Treasury have advised that funds for required rectification work won’t be available until the 2010/2011 financial year. It is simply not acceptable that this situation be allowed to continue for a further 3 years,” Mr Page said.
“With current Police numbers seriously depleted, the additional time involved in travelling to Lismore to process offenders is further reducing the level of service Ballina Police are able to provide to the local community.
“Ballina Shire has a population of over 40,000, and Ballina townships population is 16,300. A place this size should have its own charge room and cell complex that meets the necessary standards.
“The current situation also places the remaining on-duty officers in Ballina at risk while their fellow officers are in transit between Ballina and Lismore each time an offender is charged,” he said.
The closure of the charge room and cell complex at Ballina Police Station adds to the excessive workload that the police officers are dealing with.
“I believe that finding the funds to rectify the structural deficiencies at Ballina Police Station is a matter of extreme urgency. The Government should be ashamed that they would even suggest that it wait until 2011.
“If two officers are out of Ballina processing an offender in Lismore that means there are two fewer officers on deck at Ballina. This is a bad situation if all is going smoothly. But if a major incident occurs during their absence makes the situation critical.
“It is untenable that the charge room at the Ballina Police Station remain inoperable. It should never have been allowed to deteriorate to the point that it has. I urge the Minister for Police and the Government to find the resources necessary to resolve this situation as a matter of urgency,” Mr Page said.
