Police Minister Yasmin Catley turned the first sod for the new Moama police station alongside Murray River Council Mayor John Harvie, NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton, Murray River Council Councillor Gen Campbell, Murray River Police District Commander Paul Smith and Southern Region Commander Joe Cassar.
Photo by
Jordan Townrow
A sod-turning ceremony took place on Tuesday, March 4 to mark the start of construction for Moama’s new police station.
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NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley led the sod-turning alongside NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton, Murray River Council Mayor John Harvie, Southern Region Commander Joe Cassar and Murray River Police District Commander Paul Smith.
The build is expected to be completed by October this year, with officers to be operating out of the facility by the end of October.
Southern Region Commander Joe Cassar said the facility is a much needed upgrade.
“The [old] police station down the road is in a building that's nearing a century old and our police have occupied it for some 30 years,” he said.
“It’s served its purpose in housing our police and serving the police community but at the end of the day, it’s just good to have a professional facility where police can be professional and serve our community.”
Murray River Councillor Joy Allan, Cr Harvie, Mrs Dalton, Mr Smith, Mr Cassar and Cr Campbell supported the event on the day.
Photo by
Jordan Townrow
In early January, the NSW Police Force announced construction company Intrec would be managing the build of the long-awaited $7.9 million facility.
The new station will be fitted with state-of-the-art technology to bring Moama in line with their counterparts in the metro area.
It will be home to Moama’s general duties police, sergeant, nine constables and highway patrol.
The facility will have space for up to 30 police officers, allowing room for new staff, detectives and other visiting police if the need arises.
Chief Inspector Michael Fuller and police officers Adam Sheehy, Shaun Stringer, Francis O’Brien, Morgan Hadjialexiou and Chris Matthew attended the event.
Photo by
Jordan Townrow
Mrs Dalton said the station will also help accommodate the growing population of Moama.
“[Moama] is the fastest growing place in the state ... a lot of people are coming up from Melbourne to settle and it is putting a lot of strain on the community,” she said.
“We need these services, we need the police station and the next job is to have a co-location of an ambulance station here as well.
“Moama is a significant centre and it will only increase in size.”
Cr Harvie, Mrs Catley, Mrs Dalton, Mr Smith and Mr Cassar agreed that the new station is a much needed addition to Moama.
Photo by
Jordan Townrow
With Moama police achieving a long-awaited milestone, Mathoura are also calling for a much needed look into their own run-down station.
Mrs Catley said she would be visiting the Mathoura police station with Mrs Dalton to look at the damage.
“NSW Police have around a thousand properties ... the property team go through their properties methodically and look at the priority areas,” she said.
“We are stopping at Mathoura on our way to Deniliquin today and we will look at that, like we look at policing in any area. The facility up there, as I’m told ... is completely unacceptable.
“[Moama police station] has been on the cards since 2020. We did have to increase the budget, but we will continue to work through the list.”
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