Councillors campaign to attract and retain police

Narrabri Shire Council will write to Member for Barwon Roy Butler and the relevant NSW ministers to express concern about the NSW Police rezoning Wee Waa from a ‘special remote location’ to a ‘remote location’ effective from July 1, 2023.

Deputy mayor Darrell Tiemens told Tuesday’s ordinary council meeting it was “a matter of concern” because of the “issues they’ve been having in terms of attracting and retaining police officers”.

Cr Tiemens put forward a motion about the rezoning at Tuesday’s meeting and all councillors present voted in favour of it.

Cr Tiemens explained the main changes that will affect future NSW Police include the loss of a housing allowance and the loss of a transfer incentive at the completion of their tenure in the Wee Waa community.

“Narrabri Shire Council needs to advocate on behalf of the Narrabri Shire community, specifically the Wee Waa community,” said Cr Tiemens’ rationale for the motion, detailed in the council business paper.

“NSC needs to highlight that this change should not occur due to the increased likelihood that future NSW Police will reside in the township of Narrabri, instead of across our shire villages.

“Furthermore, the flow-on concerns then include, but not limited to, a lower police presence in the Wee Waa community and an increase in the NSW Police response time due to Narrabri Shire covering some 13,000 square kilometres.

“My understanding is that Wee Waa is the only town downgraded, Bellata has been upgraded,” Cr Tiemens said at Tuesday’s council meeting.

Councillors also voted in favour of NSC writing to the Narrabri Shire sector of the Oxley Police District to: “acknowledge their improvements in lowering crime in Wee Waa in recent months; reiterate that NSC support that Wee Waa remains as a ‘special remote location’ for NSW Police; thank the NSW government for upgrading the status of Bellata to ‘remote location’; and thank Narrabri Police for the important work they provide and continue to do in our shire”.

Cr Lisa Richardson is on council’s crime prevention committee and said, “Over the last 12 months Wee Waa has had a huge spike and it’s because our Narrabri Shire police that’s back under control.

“I think acknowledging them and thanking them for their work is something they should do.”

Cr Cathy Redding is also on the crime prevention committee and said the rezoning of Wee Waa and downgrading was “a surprise” because it was only recently considered “a hot spot” for crime.

“Narrabri shire is considered one of the safest shires around … so it would be great if we could get this motion forward and get a big push for Wee Waa station,” Cr Redding added.

Mayor Ron Campbell commented, “One of the consequences of being downgraded is they don’t get rental assistance … so it’s an important thing to do.”

Cr John Clements said, “It’s an unusual decision and it needs to not only be reversed but it needs to be found out how it occurred.”

Cr Clements said other matters needed to be addressed to help retain police in the town and said Wee Waa police officers were “sick of thinking they’re rostered on in Wee Waa but serve elsewhere for the day”.