Station opened

By Kath Gannaway
THE new Yarra Junction police station was officially opened by Police Minister Bob Cameron last week.
Gembrook MP Tammy Lobato, Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Keiran Walshe and Yarra Junction Sergeant Kevin Largue joined Mr Cameron for the unveiling of a commemorative plaque declaring the station open.
The new station comprising a watch house, muster room, mess room interview room, sergeant’s office, holding cell and storage and property rooms was hailed as a vast improvement for Sgt Largue and his team as well as for the local community.
Assistant Police Commissioner Bob Hastings, Region 4 Superintendent Andrew Crisp and Area Manager Andrew Humberstone, Shire of Yarra Ranges councillor and local police officer Terry Avery, colleagues from neighbouring stations and from other emergency services organisations were among those who took the opportunity to look over the $1.3 million station.
Mr Cameron praised the work of police in the community and noted the contrast between the new facility and the old police station was enormous.
Tammy Lobato, who played a pivotal role in securing funding for the new station, said she was proud to be taking part in such an important occasion.
“When I first saw the conditions in which the police were operating, I made it a priority to work towards getting a new police station for Yarra Junction,” Ms Lobato said.
“The first challenge was to find an appropriate site and then to develop a facility that would meet both the needs of the community and of the police stationed there.
“I am so thrilled to see this project completed with a facility that meets both those goals. With this state-of the art station, it will enable the dedicated police officers at Yarra Junction to deliver a higher level of policing services to the community,” she said.
Presenting the Victorian flag to Sgt Largue she said “I am full of pride to be here at the opening, as I know you, other members and indeed the whole of Victoria Police are when they see such a magnificent facility.
“It is a facility which is well deserved and one which will allow you to function to the best of your ability for the community of Yarra Junction,” she said.
Sgt Largue said the station had exceeded his and his officers expectations in both size and design.
“It’s a vast improvement for working conditions of members and in terms of safety and comfort of the community,” he said.
“One of the main attributes is it allows us to provide greater service to people who we’re dealing with in terms of privacy and safety.”
He said the holding cell and interview rooms were a great attribute.
“It is particularly useful when we’re dealing with multiple offenders or in dynamic situations where we have to maintain control of a number of different people at the same time.
Sgt Largue paid tribute to the contribution of Ms Lobato who he said had worked hard to get the new station.
“Without making commitments she told us early in the piece she would lobby hard for us to get a new station and she kept us informed all through her campaign.”
“She has had a close, personal involvement with the establishment of the new facility here from the outset.
“Without that involvement we may not have achieved a new station for residents of the Upper Yarra,” he said.