Mayor to Police Chief: “Bring the helicopter and inspect our site before you spend millions elsewhere."

"Chief Commissioner Bush, don't take our word for it. Bring the helicopter. Fly straight from Melbourne and land here at West Sale Airport. We'll be waiting."

Wellington Shire Council has publicly called on the Victorian Government and Victoria Police to inspect West Sale Airport before making a decision on the home of the Gippsland Police Academy.

The call comes almost three months after the Victorian Government announced plans for a Gippsland Police Academy, with Council saying no representative from Government or Victoria Police has visited the site or sought local information about its potential.

The call out accompanies a new advocacy campaign featuring Mayor Cindy Madeley calling directly on Chief Commissioner Mike Bush to inspect the West Sale Airport site firsthand. The campaign features imagery highlighting the airport's existing infrastructure, training environment and emergency services capability.

Mayor Cindy Madeley said West Sale Airport already offers many of the facilities, infrastructure and land required for a Police Academy, raising questions about why decision-makers have not yet inspected the precinct. The site includes a former TAFE campus with classrooms, offices, workshops and training facilities, surrounded by approximately 190 hectares of Council-owned land.

"If the Government is genuinely looking for the best site, then surely the first step is to see what's already here," Cr Madeley said.

"Three months after the academy was announced, we haven't had a phone call, a site visit or a request for information.

"Before taxpayers spend millions of dollars elsewhere, decision-makers should come and look at the assets that already exist at West Sale Airport."

Council says the proposal is a practical alternative to building an academy from scratch.

The former TAFE campus already contains classrooms, offices, workshops, meeting spaces and supporting infrastructure, while the broader precinct offers room for recruit accommodation, operational training areas, specialist facilities, driver training facilities and future expansion.

Cr Madeley said the proposal was built on a simple question.

"Why start from scratch when the foundations already exist?

"Why spend millions building somewhere else when so much of what Victoria Police needs is already here?

"We have the land. We have the infrastructure. We have the road, rail and air connections.

"The question isn't why West Sale Airport.

"The question is why not?"

Council believes the site has the potential to become a nationally significant police and emergency services training precinct, combining existing training infrastructure, emergency services capability, aviation assets and space for long-term expansion in a single location.

The Mayor said the proposal also represents a significant economic opportunity for Gippsland.

"This is bigger than a Police Academy.

"It's about strengthening Victoria Police, creating long-term skilled jobs, supporting local businesses and investing in regional Victoria at a time when Gippsland is undergoing major economic change.

"A Police Academy at West Sale would build on our region's strengths in defence, aviation, emergency services, training and public sector service delivery."

Council is also calling on all Gippsland South candidates in Victoria’s upcoming state election to publicly state whether they support locating the Gippsland Police Academy at West Sale Airport.

"We're asking every candidate a simple question: do you support the Gippsland Police Academy being built at West Sale Airport?

"The community deserves a clear answer before it votes."

Cr Madeley said Council's message to government and Victoria Police was straightforward.

"Come to West Sale.

"Walk the site.

"Inspect the facilities.

"See the opportunity that's right in front of you.

"The site is here.

"The infrastructure is here.

"The community is ready.

"Now we need decision-makers to come to the table.