| $13M FOR NEW AND UPGRADED POLICE FACILITIES IN TOWNSVILLE |
TOWNSVILLE: Premier Anna Bligh has announced a new $12 Million Townsville District police facility at Deeragun and a $1 Million upgrade to the Townsville Police Academy if the Labor Government is re-elected
Ms Bligh said the upgrades are part of a $126 Million election commitment by the Bligh Government to continue to invest in police stations and facilities across Queensland over the next three years.
“Infrastructure projects like these not only secure Queensland’s law and order future but our building program means more than 300 jobs in Queensland that will keep our economy moving,” she said.
Member for Mundingburra Lindy Nelson Carr, Member for Thuringowa Craig Wallace and Labor’s Townsville candidate Mandy Johnston, welcomed the announcement, agreeing that the upgrade was great news for North Queensland.
“There is strong community support for further increases in police resources to help reduce crime and tailor problem-oriented policing to the needs of this area,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“There are more than 140,000 people living in Townsville and of these more than 63% are families with children.
“This growth is set to continue, which is why we are acting now to ensure the police resources and infrastructure are appropriate to the challenges.”
Ms Johnston said the new police facility showed that Labor were serious about planning for Queensland’s future.
“This new Townsville District police facility and upgrades to the Townsville Police Academy are about planning ahead – and ensuring the safety of our communities for years to come,” said Ms Johnston.
Member for Thuringowa Craig Wallace said Labor were working hard to ensure the safety of all Queenslanders.
Mr Wallace said: “The new Townsville District police facility at Deeragun is a tremendous boost for the people of Thuringowa.
“Labor are committed to ensuring Queensland remains a safe place to live and raise a family and one way we are making this happen is by investing in new and upgraded police stations.
“Infrastructure projects like this not only secure Queensland’s law and order future but they also create jobs and keep Queensland’s economy moving.”
Ms Bligh said the project was part of the Bligh Government’s statewide strategy to drive down crime rates.
“In the past seven years the overall crime rate across Queensland has declined by 24% - a vindication of Labor’s commitment to building state-of-the-art police stations, recruiting and training more police and arming them with tougher legislation.
“In the Northern Region, which includes Townsville, we have increased police numbers from 477 in 1998, to 721 today,” Ms Bligh said.
“This is an increase of more than 50%. We are focussing on ensuring Queensland’s police have the best possible infrastructure, resources and support to work with the community in fighting crime.”
Media Contact: 3239 6172
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