Police deny new Olinda station is set to close

POLICE have denied rumours that the newly built Olinda Police station has closed permanently.
However, Senior Sergeant Doug Berglund of Belgrave Police said the station has been closed temporarily during the fire danger period.
He said this was because one of the three officers posted to Olinda had been temporarily reassigned to fire duty.
He said this plus the holiday period had made it impossible to staff the new station and keep it open.
Sen Sgt Berglund said Olinda police were still operating in the area but that they were back at Belgrave station. He said that at this stage the closure was only temporary.
In recent weeks rumours of the newly opened station closing have run rife through the town.
This comes after townspeople fought for 11 years to bring a police presence back to the town.
In July last year the new police station was officially opened to the public.
The new $75,000 police station was funded in then 2005-06 State Budget and many local people felt that it was long overdue.
Snr Sgt Berglund said Victoria Police was currently reviewing the opening hours of the station.
He said there had always been a plan to review the station’s operating hours within six months of opening.
“We are now reviewing the station to ascertain the best way to staff it during the year,” Snr Sgt Berglund said.
Snr Sgt Berglund said although the station had been temporarily close, police were still patrolling the area.
“The Olinda unit is still functioning but they are just working out of Belgrave and this will continue until the end of the fire season,” he said.