By MELISSA MEEHAN
COMMUNITY groups are screaming for it, but the future of the old Emerald police station is still unknown.
Last month, Cardinia Shire councillors asked staff to prepare a report outlining the potential benefits to the community if the council were to purchase the Kilvington Drive premises, should the government put it up for sale.
But community groups, including the Emerald Community House, Emerald Village Committee and local radio station 3MDR, say the benefits to the town are obvious.
“The Emerald Village Committee (EVC) recommended that council acquire this building as a matter of urgency,” Emerald Business Group member Lynn Trensky said.
“This urgency stems from the uncertainties that surround council’s proposed Emerald Community Centre that was prepared more than eight years ago.”
She said the former police station had plenty of room to accommodate all parties interested in the site, and said it could do wonders from a tourism perspective.
“It’s a central location and part of the walking/heritage trail currently under development, and has the Emerald Museum, RSL and Puffing Billy nearby,” she said.
“It would be perfect to use as a Tourist Information Centre, and could also be a resource for the council to service the hills area,” she said.
Ms Trensky said a number of groups had come together and would all work hand in hand to get the station off the ground.
“The radio station is functioning almost 24/7, which would be perfect to ensure the information centre was always open,” she said.
“The costs to fit it out would be minimal compared to building a new building and community hub.”
3MDR vice-president Dale Blair said the police station ticked all the boxes.
“Not only does the radio station need a new home, but the closest Tourism Information Centre is based in Ferntree Gully,” Mr Blair said.
“We now know that the hills are the new playground for those in the South East, so we need to nurture that and give visitors to the area all the information, so they can spend time here rather than just come down for a festival, or take a ride on the train and head home,” he said.
He said it was still unclear whether the old station had been offered to the council.
“We don’t know if the council is being given the land or it needs to be purchased,” he said.
“This way, all the groups can come together and save the council money.
“It will pay its own way, and doesn’t need a lot of work for all of these groups to move in.”
Cardinia Shire Council’s manager for governance Doug Evans said the report would consider and include a range of issues in relation to the site.
This includes an audit of council/community facilities in Emerald, consideration of the submission made by 3MDR, look at other groups that could use the site, the costs of refurbishing the building and maintaining it.
The report is expected to be considered by the council at its June meeting.
