Liberal Northern Victoria MP Wendy Lovell has urged the state government to fund a new police station in Whittlesea township in the 2025-26 state budget, following concerns the current facility is inadequate.
Following the Black Saturday bushfires, Whittlesea expanded and now includes a 24-hour McDonald’s store.
Facilities in Whittlesea are now far behind the rapid urban growth of the area and Whittlesea – once a country town – will be an outer suburb soon.
We note that realestate.com.au (Murdoch) recently moved Kinglake and Kinglake West from ‘regional’ to ‘metropolitan’ listings in its real estate guides and website.
There is rapid development in the area and across the district, including Donnybrook, Kalkallo and other nearby towns as urban sprawl has now reached Whittlesea.
This masthead has called on the state government to re-open (extend) the rail line from Mernda to Whittlesea and a new police station.
The original rail line and reserve still exists and it would seem smart to reinstate it now, before development devours the old rail line reserve, which will then add costs when the rail line will need to be extended.
If rail passenger demand is not enough to justify a ‘full rail service,’ could the government implement what used to happen on the Hurstbridge line in the 1980s and 1990s?
Either every second train ran past Eltham to Hurstbridge or a separate ‘shuttle’ train ran between Eltham and Hurstbridge in the 1980s and 1990s.
Whittlesea needs a new police station – it’s older than Kinglake’s own police station – and the rail line to be extended to Whittlesea simply because of the growth caused by rapid urban development.
Ms Lovell noted that only minor renovations on the police station had been made six years ago, including the addition of security features and door replacements, but said this was insufficient to meet the needs of the growing community.
“The Allan Labour government is not taking crime seriously, and it’s Victorians who are suffering,” Ms Lovell said.
“The police minister must ensure that a new police station in Whittlesea is funded in the upcoming budget so that hardworking local officers have the resources they need.”
However, Yan Yean MP Lauren Kathage, defended the government’s approach, highlighting recent investments in policing.
These former country towns – now outer suburbs- require modern infrastructure.
Parts of this report are by Tom Ingleton for Star Weekly.
