A ‘letter’ to Santa leaves no doubt as to what this anonymous author wanted for Christmas.MONBULK MP James Merlino has rushed to reassure his constituents the Olinda police station project was moving forward and several locations were currently being looked at.
Mr Merlino said he was confident an announcement on the new police station’s location would be made within the next week or so.
This comes after Liberal spokesperson for Monbulk Clive Larkman called on the State Government to explain why it couldn’t find funding for the Olinda police station, despite its recent $80 million taxpayer-funded advertising blitz in the lead-up to this year’s state election.
“The Bracks Government wastes taxpayers’ money on promoting itself to the electorate, but willingly drags its heels over the completion of the Olinda police station,” Mr Larkman said.
However, Mr Merlino said the State Government made a promise in the lead-up to the 2002 election to build a new station in Olinda, and that promise was being lived up to.
The State Government’s 2005-06 State Budget allocated $7.8 million to improve police presence in Olinda and Wallan.
Olinda police has been stationed at the Belgrave police station since early 2000, when the original Olinda station was shut down for occupational, health and safety reasons.
Mr Merlino said Victoria Police had been looking at several locations for the new station and the State Government was living up to its promise to provide the town with a new facility.
