Yass Police station has not been included in this financial year’s NSW budget estimates to receive funding for any upgrades.
Mayors in the Hume Police District have a monthly zoom catch up with the new District Commander where it was ascertained Yass Police station was not expected to receive funds. The building houses thirty staff across front-line and backroom roles.
Yass Valley Mayor Rowena Abbey came away from the meeting determined to ensure Yass is prioritised for future funding.
“I raised the issue with Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman during our monthly meeting and I will also write a formal letter of support for an upgrade to Yass Police Station to the NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliot,” Mayor Abbey said.
New District Commander Superintendent Paul Condon emphasized the decision was a matter for the state government to decide, but over the coming weeks, he intends to investigate the capability of the district’s assets.
“It will be up to the state government to determine if the Yass Police station needs a rebuild or is sufficient in size. I’ll be reviewing the needs of all the police stations within the Hume District and will be in touch with NSW Police Properties to see if there is any scope or thought about future planning of police stations in the district.”
The Superintendent said any review would need to look to the future.
“These discussions will be around what the community looks like now and what Yass Valley’s future population needs will be. Will we need more or less police in some areas? Will we need more technology?”
The Yass Valley Council’s settlement strategy projects the population to reach 27,726 by 2036.
With a previous command in Queanbeyan, Superintendent Paul Condon is familiar with older style police stations and the challenges they can present structurally to meet modern OHS demands.
The newly appointed district commander has been in the role for just over a fortnight and intends to visit Yass very soon to review the situation.
“I’ll have to take a look at it too. I’ll speak with NSW Police Properties and see if there is any opportunity or need in their view to build a new police station or revamp the one we’ve got or look at other alternatives as well as looking at what the expanding population will look like in the next few years. At some stage what’s happening at Murrumbateman and the ACT is going to push into Yass.”
Mayor Abbey said Council would ask that Yass Station be considered in the next round of NSW budget estimates.
“Yass Valley is a growing community, and we need our Police Station to grow with our community and to be able to serve our needs well into the future.”
