The Great Southern Star - March 23, 2010

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Published at Leongatha for South Gippsland

36 McCartin Street, Leongatha 3953 PHONE: (03) 5662 2294, FAX: (03) 5662 4350 ACN 006 507 580 ABN 61 318 952 541 PRINT POST 336735 10006 Email - news@thestar.com.au advertising@thestar.com.au

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The Great Southern

Star

TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 2010

INSIDE

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PUBLISHED TUESDAY 72 PAGES

Desal police call Top cop asks for more police to combat predicted crime By Matt Dunn THE region’s top cop has called for eight more officers to deal with a predicted desalination plantlinked increase in crime.

Show ’n’ shine

Bass Coast Police Service Area’s Inspector Brian Curley told The Star the extra police officers would be needed to cover the needs of a ballooning population, with the workers constructing the Wonthaggi Desalination Plant expected to contribute to a tripling of vehicles (and potential accidents) on the roads in and around Wonthaggi, increased pub violence and other social problems. “With the impacts of the desal plant, now we’ve got more information on that, I think we actually need an increase in staff so we don’t reduce the quality of the service we provide for the rest of the region,” he said. “That’s pretty much what I’ve proposed and it’s gone up to higher levels of the organisation. The problem is, not so much that they won’t agree with me, but where they can get those resources from. It may mean taking them from other places. There’s a set number of police the government funds us for. “I’ve asked for up to eight extra staff. It’s just a matter of seeing what we can do within VicPol (Victoria Police). Perhaps the government could give us some temporary funding to create fixed term positions, or whatever.” Inspector Curley said the call for extra staff was not due to an increase in crime, but “projections on emergency management impacts, social impacts, road safety impacts. “The data for road safety impacts sug-

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Surf’s up ...page 20

Cricket finals

gests a potential tripling of vehicles in the Wonthaggi area. Obviously with that the risks are going to go up, the number of collisions. There’s going to be risks associated with construction activities and emergency response,” he said. “With high disposable incomes we’re expecting increased problems around licensed premises. It’s not about current data so much as it is about projections.” Police Association secretary Senior Sergeant Greg Davies has backed Inspector Curley’s call. “The Bass Coast community deserves better than to be left with a severely under-resourced police service,” he said. “This additional number will not only enable more police to be deployed on our streets – where they belong. We call on the Government to make this a priority as a matter of urgency. “They simply don’t have enough police at Wonthaggi and surrounding stations to provide basic proactive patrols which serve to prevent crime from occurring. Instead they are forced to provide a reactive service, going from job to job with little or no respite.” Snr Sgt Davies said “Bass Coast/South Gippsland requires an additional 33 police officers in order for the community to receive a proper proactive and reactive policing service”. Member for Bass Ken Smith believes police are struggling with workloads, which has led to stress-induced illness and burnout. “The lack of numbers is just stressing the poor people that are there. Right across from Cowes, Wonthaggi, San Remo – it’s just wrong that they’re having to do the amount of work that they’ve been doing,” he said. Continued on page 5.

...sport

INDEX Column 7 ............ 10 Opinions ............. 12 Property Guide... 25 Kids’ Page .......... 32 Entertainment .... 33 Classifieds.......... 42 Sport .............. 46-56

Alice in Wonthaggi-land It was a spectacle to rival the Mad Hatter’s tea party in Wonthaggi on Saturday. Rhonda Bateman (aka Alice in Wonderland) was queen of the Garnham House float as it made its way along Graham Street. The centenary parade was a massive hit, with thousands lining the street for the big occasion. See more pictures and the story inside today’s Star.

One the beat: more police are needed to cope with the desal population spike.


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The Great Southern Star - March 23, 2010 by The Great Southern Star - Issuu