Support for Gippsland Police Academy at Sale
Wellington Shire Council has thrown its support behind a proposal to establish a Gippsland Police Academy at West Sale Airport.
Council formally endorsed the proposal at its meeting on Tuesday, October 6, identifying the former TAFE site at West Sale Airport as its preferred location for the academy.
Council will now advocate to the Victorian Government, Victoria Police and other key stakeholders for the regional police training facility to be established in Wellington Shire.
The council believes the council-owned West Sale Airport site offers a logical and cost-effective location, with sufficient space for a police training campus, recruit accommodation, operational training facilities and future expansion.
The former TAFE campus is also seen as a major advantage, with existing classrooms, workshops, offices, training rooms and student facilities that could be adapted for police training.
The site would also bring together existing training facilities, emergency services capabilities and aviation infrastructure.
Wellington Shire Mayor Cr Cindy Madeley said the proposal fitted with the council's long-term vision for the West Sale precinct.
“Council and the community have invested considerable time planning for the future of West Sale Airport, and we would welcome the opportunity to see that work lead to a permanent home for a Gippsland Police Academy,” Cr Madeley said.
She said the academy would provide significant economic benefits for the region through jobs, training opportunities and increased investment.
“A police academy would create jobs, provide new training opportunities, attract investment and support local businesses across the region,” she said.
“This would be a transformational investment for Wellington Shire and a significant opportunity for Gippsland, delivering lasting benefits for local communities for generations to come.”
Cr Madeley said Wellington Shire already had a strong history of supporting major training facilities and government services, including RAAF Base East Sale and Fulham Correctional Centre.
“A Gippsland Police Academy would make use of existing infrastructure at West Sale Airport and build on Wellington Shire’s long history of supporting major training facilities and government services,” she said.
“It would be a natural fit for our region, creating new training opportunities while helping prepare more police officers to serve regional communities.”
Council will now prepare a detailed case for the West Sale Airport site to form part of its advocacy to the Victorian Government and Victoria Police.
The proposal will also be included as a priority initiative in Wellington Shire Council’s advocacy platform ahead of the upcoming Victorian State Election.
