The Minister for Police has been caught out during Question Time in NSW Parliament today on the future of Lochinvar Police Station, confirming the Government is considering sub-dividing the station’s site.

“Residents in Lochinvar have been duped. It is clear that this Sydney-centric Government doesn’t care at all about maintaining a local police presence in Lochinvar and Maitland MP Frank Terenzini has been ineffectual in keeping this valuable service,” Robyn Parker said.

“The Government has allowed this building to rundown with a lack of maintenance, so it could sell it off to the highest bidder.”

Robyn Parker asked the Minister Tony Kelly why Lochinvar has no police presence after an officer moved out of the residence 6 months ago, whether the reason Lochinvar still has no local police officer is that there is much needed maintenance to be done to police buildings and why regular maintenance wasn’t done in the first place to avoid the loss of a local police presence.

The Minister replied by saying:

“I am also advised that the closure of Lochinvar Police Station has had no discernable impact upon the current police response times for the delivery of policing services to the local community. The building is in need of major work. We are currently reviewing the options available to this site including the possibility of sub-dividing the land.”

(Hansard, 4/6/09)

“It is clear that the NSW Labor Government is going to sell off this piece of land to try to fill its’ cash strapped coffers. If Frank Terenzini were really listening to his constituents he would know that Lochinvar residents doesn’t want to lose their local police presence,” Robyn Parker said.

“The Minister must have his head in the sand if he thinks that losing a station and a local officer doesn’t have an impact at all on police response times. Maybe he should talk to local residents instead of his department.

“This is a growing suburb in the Hunter and should be attracting more services not having them ripped out. It’s just another demonstration of how out of touch Labor is with the Hunter and how the seat of Maitland is not receiving the representation it deserves from the local member.”