By MELISSA MEEHAN
Council drags feet on turning old police station into community cetre …
A PETITION with more than 2000 signatures will be handed over to the Cardinia Shire Council tonight (Tuesday) to support the use of the former Emerald police station as a community hub.
While the council is still investigating whether it can afford to purchase the building, it is yet to be decided whether the State Government will put it on the market.
Vice-president of local radio station 3MDR, Dale Blair, has been the main spokesman pushing for the council to purchase the site.
He said that the proposed hub could provide a much-needed home for 3MDR and many community groups, as well as a tourist information centre.
“There seems to be a lot of fence-sitting of councillors, as well as local, state and federal members,” Mr Blair said.
“It’s a local issue, for me, it will direct how I vote in the upcoming election.”
Mr Blair said that, while he understood there was a long process involved in the State Government deciding on whether the building was to be sold, he couldn’t understand the reluctance of the council to support the community.
While the council has not directly refused the proposal, he said movement had been slow in discussions.
“It’s frustrating,” he said.
“For me, it’s a no-brainer.”
He said the building would fill a need in the town, with a plan to reinvigorate and expand the area around the library, earmarked for 2020.
“We can’t wait until 2020, we need something now and this building is perfect,” he said.
“It’s right in the arts precinct, opposite Puffing Billy, right where the tourists come in.
“This way, they can get off the train and can see the information centre and learn about what is happening in our town – that’s the best thing about sharing the building with the radio station, we will have someone there every day.”
Mr Blair said the Emerald Community House was also interested in using some space for a computer room and other groups were also interested in using the building.
Earlier this year, Ranges Ward Councillor, Brett Owen, moved a motion that the council officers investigate potential uses for the old police station and, whether the council could afford it.
He said the site had tourism potential and its close proximity to Gemco meant it was worth doing some homework in relation to the former police station.
