| $4 MILLION UPGRADE OF MACKAY POLICE STATION ANNOUNCED |
MACKAY: Premier Anna Bligh has committed to a $4 Million upgrade of the Mackay Police Station if the Labor Government is re-elected.
Ms Bligh said the upgrade is 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.
Member for Mackay Tim Mulherin welcomed the announcement, saying the upgrade was great news for local residents.
“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,” Mr Mulherin said.
“There are now more than 72,000 people living in Mackay and of these more than 60% 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.
“This upgraded station is about planning ahead – and ensuring the safety of our communities for years to come.”
Ms Bligh said, “We 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 this $126 million building program means 300 more jobs in Queensland that will keep our economy moving.”
The Premier said the project was part of her 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,” she said.
“In the Central Region, which takes in Mackay, we have increased police numbers from 557 in 1998, to 783 today. This is an increase of 40%.
“We are focussing on ensuring Queensland’s police have the best possible infrastructure, resources and support to work with the community in fighting crime.”
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