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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 3 Hansard (9 March) . . Page.. 803 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

Mr speaker, as part of this long term review of Police and Emergency Services facilities, the Government concluded that the upgrade of Belconnen and Woden Police Station would be given a high priority. In 1998 the Government commissioned a feasibility study by Col Brown consulting Pty Ltd into options for JESCs in Belconnen and Woden. That report proposed a JESC for Belconnen and the relocation of the Woden Patrol to Tuggeranong Patrol Police Station with a shopfront to be established in the Woden Plaza. The Brown Report was released for public information and comment.

It became clear that there was considerable concern in the community about the proposal to close the Police Station so the Government decided to reject the consultant's proposal and to retain a Police Station in Woden.

Mr Speaker a subsequent options study by Totalcare concluded that co-location of Police, Fire and Ambulance in a JESC to service Woden and surrounding communities is the most cost-effective solution.

I note that the Justice and Community Safety Committee cites criticism in the submissions by both the United Firefighters Union and the Australian Federal Police Association concerning the adequacy of consultation. Mr Speaker the information available in the studies was based on the experience of building the new Police Station at Tuggeranong and the JESC at Gungahlin. In both of those instances there was extensive consultation with the relevant staff associations.

Mr Speaker the UFU and the AFPA have been consulted about the final selection of the Woden JESC site and they are involved in the JESC Working Group established to work through the detailed design.

It is important to note Mr Speaker that the siting requirements for the JESC have already taken into account some of the aspect raised by community submissions to the committee. In particular mentions of the security issues in the area on the Western side of the Woden Plaza will be addressed by the JESC on the site of Block 4 section 9 Phillip - Mr Speaker this is part of the carpark area to the north of the ACT Government Shopfront and the Senior Citizens Centre.

Mr Speaker officers from my department, and where appropriate from the AFP, are currently consulting with various stakeholders in and around the Woden Plaza and proposed site. In conjunction with the Chief Minister's Department Community Consultation Section an information brochure has also been prepared which will be displayed throughout the Town Centre and also provided as a letterbox drop to stakeholders with a direct interest in the location of the JESC.

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