Council backs Gippsland Police Academy for West Sale Airport

Wellington Shire Council has formally endorsed advocacy for a Gippsland Police Academy to be established at West Sale Airport, identifying the former TAFE site as its preferred location.

The decision follows a Notice of Motion adopted by Council on Tuesday 6 October, with Council set to advocate to the Victorian Government, Victoria Police and other key stakeholders in support of the proposal.

Council believes West Sale Airport is the most logical and cost-effective location for a regional police academy. The Council-owned site has space to accommodate a police training campus, recruit accommodation, operational training facilities and future expansion. It also brings together existing training facilities, emergency services capability and aviation infrastructure in a single location.

A further advantage is the former TAFE campus, which includes classrooms, workshops, offices, training rooms and student support facilities that could significantly reduce the time and cost required to establish the academy from scratch.

Wellington Shire Council Mayor Cr Cindy Madeley said the proposal aligns strongly with Council's long-term vision for the West Sale precinct and builds on significant planning work undertaken over the past year, including community consultation for the West Sale Airport Master Plan.

“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.

"A police academy would create jobs, provide new training opportunities, attract investment and support local businesses across the region.

"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.

Cr Madeley concluded that Wellington Shire was ideally placed to support another major training facility.  

"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, including RAAF Base East Sale and Fulham Correctional Centre. It would be a natural fit for our region, creating new training opportunities while helping prepare more police officers to serve regional communities," Cr Madeley said.

Council will now prepare a case for locating a Gippsland Police Academy at West Sale Airport. It will form part of Council's advocacy efforts and highlight its readiness to work collaboratively with the Victorian Government and Victoria Police to help deliver this significant investment for Gippsland.

The proposal will also be included as a priority initiative in Council's advocacy platform ahead of the upcoming Victorian state election.