{"id":330972,"date":"2023-04-13T19:00:51","date_gmt":"2023-04-13T09:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=330972"},"modified":"2023-04-18T19:17:12","modified_gmt":"2023-04-18T09:17:12","slug":"small-upgrades-for-police-station","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2023\/04\/13\/small-upgrades-for-police-station\/","title":{"rendered":"Small Upgrades For Police Station"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Blackbutt’s Police Station is located in the town’s main street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

April 13, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

Small upgrades are on the way for Blackbutt Police Station, but not the new station that had been hoped for.<\/p>\n

In an answer to a Question on Notice from Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, Police Minister Mark Ryan said he had been advised by the Queensland Police Service that it was already preparing for a number of improvements at the station.<\/p>\n

This includes signage, lighting and upgrades to radio communications technology.<\/p>\n

“Security screening and fencing works to improve the Officer-in-Charge house have also been authorised,” Minister Ryan said.<\/p>\n

“I am also advised by the QPS that the QPS will also consider any further upgrade requirements as part of the QPS forward capital works program.”<\/p>\n

Mrs Frecklington had asked the Minister whether there were any plans to build a new police station at Blackbutt, as she believed working conditions in the current building were unsafe.<\/strong><\/p>\n

She has described the building as “decrepit, tiny and no longer fit-for-purpose”.<\/p>\n

“Each year, the government provides significant funding to the Queensland Police Service, and it\u2019s then up to the QPS to allocate funding to initiatives which they consider to be a priority based on operational needs and requirements,” Minister Ryan replied.<\/p>\n

“Nonetheless, I have forwarded the query about the Blackbutt Police Station to the QPS for consideration and have asked the QPS to look into this matter.”<\/p>\n

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Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington says she won\u2019t be giving up on the fight for a new police station in Blackbutt.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mrs Frecklington said she was disappointed with the response she had received.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy question was clearly about the need for a brand new building for our Blackbutt Police Officers who are currently working in very difficult conditions,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I welcome the confirmation of some small upgrades, these are not going to fix the problem.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I\u2019ve previously noted, the current building is no longer fit-for-purpose or safe with police pfficers often having to share their workspace with the same people they may have just detained.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe building is just too small and has severe limitations for the four officers who are now permanently stationed at Blackbutt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be keeping the pressure on the Police Minister and highlighting the need for a brand new Police Station for Blackbutt.”<\/p>\n