By Goya Dmytryshchak
Plans to build a 24-hour police station at Altona have been welcomed by residents and traders.
Victoria Police has lodged a planning permit application with Hobsons Bay council to build a station in Galvin Street, at the western end of Civic Parade.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Lisa Beechey said the contemporary station would replace the ageing one in Altona North.
“Land has been acquired and design and planning is well under way for a new police station, which will be built on Galvin Street, Altona,” she said.
“The new station is government-funded to replace the current Altona North police station on Cooper Avenue, which is old and outdated.”
She said the new station was expected to be operational in 2020.
The last police station in Altona, at the corner of Blyth Street and Valletta Lane, closed in 1978. Prior to that, there was a police station on the corner of Blyth and Sargood streets.
Altona Village Traders Association president Kim Walsh, a former police detective, said businesses would be pleased to have a police station closer to Altona beach and the Pier Street shopping precinct.
“Our beach is becoming more and more popular with surrounding suburbs – people coming in to visit our beach,” he said.
“It’s nice to know that in the event of any trouble … the police are a lot closer than what they are from Altona North.
“Their response time will hopefully be a lot quicker.
“The long-term Altona residents would be extremely happy that we are getting our police station back.
“After all these years, it’s coming back to Altona where it belongs.”
Plans for the new station show 59 on-site car spaces, one bay for a booze bus and three spots for stolen vehicles.
A report prepared for Victoria Police says the new station is aimed at ensuring “a stronger police presence in the Hobsons Bay area”.
“Should a significant event occur in the municipality of Hobsons Bay or immediate area, the new police
station has also been designed to accommodate a higher level of serving members to ensure that the community is served appropriately,” the report states.
