Tony Perrett calls for more Mary Valley police officers
Despite a population of 6500 and projections of anticipated massive growth once construction of the Borumba pumped hydro project gets underway, the Mary Valley has had no frontline police officers for almost a month.
Gympie
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As Queensland launches a new approach to combating the lack of numbers in the police force, the shocking shortage of front line police in the Mary Valley has resurfaced as officers try to shoulder double the normal workload.
Gympie LNP MP Tony Perrett revealed in a speech to state parliament on Thursday the Mary Valley has had no frontline police officers for almost a month, with the two officers stationed there both on leave.
For a population of 6500 and growing, Mr Perrett labelled the number of appointed officers “grossly inadequate,” “insufficient” and “unacceptable.”
He said he received reports there were no police stationed in Imbil during the Easter break and peak period of the school holidays.
During this time, an administrative assistant was the only staff available at the station.
The issue arose in parliament as Mr Perrett spoke to support the new legislation to bring retired and former police officers into the force as first-response frontline police in “hard-to-fill” locations.
It is uncertain whether the legislative change will fix the problem at Imbil, Mr Perret said on Monday.
The shortage in the Mary Valley was not the fault of Imbil police, he said.
“They are doing their best with inadequate personnel and inadequate resources.”
Mr Perrett said there should be four police officers covering the Mary Valley but the state government had not done so as it would mean upgrading the Imbil station.
Sergeant Bill Greer said there had been two officer stationed in the Mary Valley since about 1980.
Since then, “times have changed” and Sgt Greer’s workload increased as did the population of the area.
The respected and beloved local officer said he felt frustrated he could give the police response he would like to provide, particularly when the workload was high.
“I do feel frustrated that we can’t be everywhere at one time,” he said.
Imbil’s second police officer is on long-term leave for 12 months until March 2024 and during the times Sgt Greer has mandatory leave, the station is left with no police officers.
A relief officer is temporarily stationed for six days until Friday, when Sgt Greer returns.
Sgt Greer said it was hard to say early on into the new legislation whether it would improve the shortage, but he would “like to hope” the Mary Valley would be one of the priorities among other regional communities.
Mary Valley Chamber of Commerce president Janelle Parker said the Imbil station needed to be upgraded to about four officers in consideration with their current workload and the proposed Borumba pumped hydro boosting the population.
The police shortage had been a problem for a “number of years,” with Ms Parker being a local resident since 2010, and now also a business owner and community group leader.
She recalled a specific night in the Mary Valley when most businesses fell victim to a chain of break-ins.
Imbil’s second officer was on leave and Sgt Greer was “tied up for days” visiting each shop and forcing day-to-day issues to the bottom of the work pile.
More road accidents and domestic violence incidents leave the Mary Valley in desperate need of police, while the closest station in Kenilworth was at least a 20-minute drive away, Ms Parker said.
The shortage left Mary Valley citizens at a “weak spot,” she said.
Ms Parker also stressed the importance of the current officers’ safety – some jobs require at least two cops for personal safety and “at a time of such a focus on health and well being,” the ever-increasing workload is not good for the officers.
“You can’t expect them to be on duty 24/7,” she said.
“It’s the community itself that wants to feel secure and safe and part of that is knowing police are in attendance.”
Queensland Police Service was contacted for comment.
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