Media Releases

The Member for Lowan and Minister for Sport and Recreation and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Hugh Delahunty joined representatives from the Southern Grampians Shire, the Balmoral community and Victoria Police to celebrate the official opening of the town’s new police station today.

Representing Minister for Police and Emergency Services Peter Ryan, Minister Delahunty said the new $750,000 station would provide a modern base for community policing.

“In towns like Balmoral, where a single police officer is responsible for the area, it is important to provide facilities that best support one-man operations,” Minister Delahunty said.

“The new station is in keeping with the one member police station generic floor plan, which includes an entrance foyer/reception, general office, meeting room, interview room, storage and lock-up garage.”

Minister Delahunty said the new 121 square meter facility also included a range of environmental design features to reduce operating costs and its environmental footprint.

“The new station has rainwater harvesting facilities and a photovoltaic solar energy system that support some of the station’s water and electricity needs,” Minister Delahunty said.

“I am confident this new facility will provide a modern, comfortable and user-friendly base to support the important work carried out by Victoria Police in the Balmoral district for many years to come.”

Minister Ryan said law and order was one of the highest priorities under the Victorian Coalition Government.

“The Coalition is investing more than $30 million in new and upgraded police stations across Victoria, to provide modern, purpose built facilities to support police activities,” Minister Ryan said.

“In addition, the Coalition is delivering the largest-ever boost to frontline police resources in a single term of government in Victoria’s history, with 1,700 additional police to be allocated by November 2014.

“Putting more police where they are needed will boost community safety and act as a visual reminder that police are out in force.”

“Law and order is a priority for the Coalition Government.  We all want to feel safe in our community and the new Balmoral police station will help deter crime, property damage and antisocial behaviour,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Coalition Government has awarded funding to the Horsham Rural City Council to improve local crime prevention measures, as part of the Government’s Public Safety Infrastructure Fund grants.

The Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty today said $191,497 will be provided to upgrade 12 existing CCTV cameras and install an additional 10 cameras at new sites within the Horsham CBD.

“We all want to feel safe in our community and this funding will help deter crime, with a specific focus on assaults, property damage and theft,” Mr Delahunty said.

The grant program was highly competitive, with over 100 applications received from councils across Victoria.

Crime Prevention Minister Andrew McIntosh said the successful applications covered a number of different types of projects.

"Several councils have received funding support for the installation of CCTV systems. CCTV camera footage can be used by police to assist in identifying and prosecuting offenders, and provides a strong deterrent to those who commit crimes and engage in anti-social behaviour in our streets,” he said.

“Grant funding was also awarded to projects involving installation of public safety and security assets such as lighting systems, and urban design initiatives which help reduce the opportunity to commit crime.”

“Action on community safety and crime prevention is a high priority for the Coalition Government and I congratulate the Horsham Rural City Council in its endeavours to keep our streets safe,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Public Safety Infrastructure Fund grants are part of the Coalition Government’s $39 million Community Crime Prevention Program. This sum includes funding for community safety measures and graffiti removal programs across Victoria.

Information on the Community Crime Prevention Program, including details of all the successful Public Safety Infrastructure Fund projects, can be found at www.justice.vic.gov.au/communitycrimeprevention

Today in Parliament, the Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty, condemned the Brumby government for it’s soft on crime approach.

“This issue has recently been highlighted by two separate issues in my electorate,” Mr. Delahunty said.

“The first is the Hindmarsh Shire Council looking at installing security cameras to curb antisocial behaviour in Nhill – a great town - following a number in incidents in the CBD such as a large snatch and grab burglary, smashed shop windows and damage to street signs.

“The other is a street brawl that happened in Hamilton on the weekend. Four police were completely overwhelmed by back to back violent brawls involving up to 80 people.”

Mr Delahunty said that a Liberal/National Coalition government will not tolerate crime, violence or anti-social behaviour.

“Victorian families have a right to feel safe and secure in their community but under John Brumby, assaults, and anti-social behaviour have reached record levels on our streets, with violent crime rising by 40 per cent and assaults increasing by 70 percent,” he said.

Mr. Delahunty said that the people of Victoria are supporting the Liberal/National Coalition’s policy which targets not only liquor licensees who continue to break the law, but also patrons.

“Under our policy licensees who do the right thing by ordering drunk, violent or quarrelsome patrons from their venues will be backed up by tough sanctions if their or police instructions are ignored.

“We will double the penalty for failing to leave a licensed premises and introduce a new law making it an offence to remain on the footpath or adjacent area from where a person has been required to leave or refused entry and another new law making it an offence to re-enter a premises they have been required to leave within 24 hours.”

“Not only does Victoria require more police, Victoria needs tougher laws to deal with drunk and anti-social behaviour similar to what has happened in Hamilton on the weekend,” he said.

“Law and order has not been a priority of the Brumby Government, but it will be a priority of the Liberal/Nationals Coalition, because Victorians have a right to expect to be protected,” Mr. Delahunty said.