No welcome mat for Leichhardt Police station

A Police Local Area Command is close to being approved in Leichhardt, contingent on police finding enough new car parking spaces nearby.

After NSW Police failed to answer concerns about parking at last month’s Joint Regional Planning Panel meeting, the JRPP gave police until August 12 to submit a parking report.

The police must give details of where 30 extra parking spaces can be found around their chosen site between Leichhardt Bus Depot, Sydney Secondary College and Pioneers Memorial Park.

The proposed relocation of the Police Local Area Command Centre from Glebe to Derbyshire Street in Leichhardt is unpopular with nearby residents who dread an increase of cars with no extra parking spaces.

Leichhardt Mayor Rochelle Porteous – one of five members on the JRPC – voted to refuse the police application because of the impact an LAC would have on nearby residents. She said the community had not been adequately consulted by the JRPP.

“I have always been very supportive of a local police station in Leichhardt, and of the work that the police do,” Council Porteous said.

“However I feel that this is an over intensification of the site without a proper assessment being carried out.”

Leichhardt ALP Councillor Darcy Byrne says a police station is an important service that Leichhardt needs but the residents around the station have legitimate concerns about parking

Councillor Byrne said it was up to the council to find an alternative site if they genuinely wanted a new police station.

“Leichhardt Council should act responsibly and identify alternative sites where the police station could be located rather than out right opposing a long awaited public service.”

Leichhardt  Independent Councillor John Stamolis doubted that the police will be to meet the condition of finding 30 new parks within 400 metres of the proposed station.

“If  that condition can’t be met, I expect it to be refused,” Councillor Stamolis said.

“This is a very tight, intensively used area. [The police] haven’t even thought about the key needs of the residents or their own needs.”