Victorian Nationals: Danny O'Brien MP - Police station fire means Labor Government must act

The burning down of the old Sale police station provides an opportunity for the Allan Labor Government to finally do the right thing and clean up this prime real estate after 11 years of inaction.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien, said with the vacant building destroyed, apparently deliberately, now is the time to act.

"To begin with the site must now be cleared as soon as it is safe to do so. After 11 years of sitting vacant, the last thing we want is more years of a burnt-out eyesore sitting fenced off.

"Neighbours, local police and I have been warning the government for years about the anti-social behaviour occurring in the old station, and there have been fires lit previously that thankfully didn't take off.  Unfortunately, this time was different.

"We are lucky that no-one was killed or injured and that neighbouring properties were spared significant damage from this fire.

"Secondly, the Government must at last bring the proposed sale to a head.  I am aware that the sale of this site, as Crown land, has been held up by native title issues.

"While the law in this respect must of course be respected, how long can an issue like this be allowed to drag out?" Mr O'Brien asked.

"This is prime real estate, right on Lake Guthridge and close to the CBD and major roads.  It is ripe for a hotel, restaurant or similar keystone development to benefit the town and the wider region."

Mr O'Brien said he and the community are sick of excuses from the Allan Labor Government and it is past time for action.

"It's unfortunate that it's taken a fire emergency to get to this point, but there can be no more excuses.  The site has been deemed excess to state government requirements for a decade now and needs to be dealt with."

Mr O'Brien said the site remains under the management of Victoria Police and he had alerted both the Police Minister and Assistant Treasurer (who is responsible for Crown land sales) to the destruction.

"I will now be following this up further in Parliament next week to get action."