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Budget funding for police station a step in right direction: MLA

Staff ReporterEastern Reporter

In the 2013 State Election, the Liberal party promised to build a new Ballajura station that would be operating by 2015-16.

The new funding was announced in the 2014-15 State Budget with $10.6 million for capital works and $2.8 million expected to be spent this year.

East Metropolitan Region MLC Donna Faragher said the funding commitment is good news for the Ballajura community.

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West Swan MLA Rita Saffioti campaigned for a new station with local residents since the first one was closed.

‘This news is testament to how a well-organised, grassroots campaign by a passionate group of locals can succeed in getting governments to listen and to see positive change implemented in our communities,’ she said.

‘I must congratulate the Ballajura community for its tireless campaign to have this new police station built in Ballajura.’

Police Minister Liza Harvey said the funding formed part of a $1.3 billion funding commitment for the delivery of police services in 2014-15, an increase of $83.5 million in 2013-14.

‘Overall this budget contains $11 million over four years to build the Ballajura police station,’ she said.

‘A further $400,000 for associated expenses is also provided.

‘We have benefited from construction costs decreasing in WA which means we can do more with our allocated budget.’

However, Ms Saffioti said the government was still breaking its key election promise to have the station operational in 2015-16 and for it to be open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

‘Although I welcome last week’s funding announcement, I can also assure you that I will not be satisfied until I see this station finally built, and see it begin providing the valuable policing as desired by my local community,’ she said.

A site for the police station has not yet been decided.