The campaign for a new police station to be built in Cessnock hit a snag, with police minister Troy Grant confirming that there are ‘no current plans’ to build a new station in the town.
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Cessnock City Council wrote to the police minister after a motion in August to request new police stations be built and Cessnock and Kurri Kurri, and for more police officers and resources to be provided to the Cessnock local government area.
Mr Grant’s response was received and noted at council’s October 18 meeting.
“The NSW Police Force advises that there are no current plans to build a new police station in Cessnock, as minor remedial works were completed earlier this year in order to upgrade the station area,” it stated.
“All requests for new works are collated and prioritised across the state based on need. Local Area Commanders in consultation with the Police Executive provide input into the prioritisation of works.
“I am advised Kurri Kurri police station is open on a needs basis and calls for service to Kurri Kurri police station are directed to Cessnock police station when no staff are available.”
Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent said he was disappointed by the response, and that the council will continue to advocate for more resources for the city’s local police, including increasing staffing numbers and addressing the state of its police stations.
The council’s More Police on the Beat petition – which was launched on Change.org in September – has received 540 signatures.
“I would certainly like to see more of the community get behind the More Police on the Beat campaign as I know many of us share the same concerns,” Cr Pynsent said.
“I look forward to continuing to lead this campaign and working towards a positive solution for our community.”
Cessnock MP Clayton Barr said he too was disappointed with the response from the police minister’s office.
Mr Barr has been pushing for a new police station since he was elected to parliament in 2011.
He said a new station had been proposed for Cessnock at least four years before that, but after the election it “disappeared from the list”.
Mr Barr said even if more police were appointed to Cessnock, the station in its current state would not be able to accommodate them.
“It’s not fit for the purpose of modern policing, and from a workplace health and safety perspective,” he said.
The online petition can be signed at www.change.org/p/nsw-government-cessnock-more-police-on-the-beat.
