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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
Jasper Lindell

Labor commits to building new police station for Molonglo Valley

A new police station would be built in the Molonglo Valley under ACT Labor's plan for the fast-growing region.

The party will on Thursday unveil a suite of commitments for the region, including a police station to be built in addition to the already promised emergency services station.

Labor said it would build a new child and family centre, and a flexible working hub for ACT government staff so they could work closer to home rather than needing to commute into other town centres.

Labor recommitted to building a Molonglo library and community centre, saying it would provide events and meeting space, and promised more housing across mixed-use developments in the town centre.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said a re-elected Labor government would make significant investments to build on the decision to seek the reclassification of Molonglo as a town centre.

"We will also continue work on new and expanded schools for Molonglo, including a new public high school and college in the Molonglo Town Centre, which will include a range of new facilities open to community use," Mr Barr said.

"To support the diverse community of the Molonglo Valley, Labor will also release community facility land to be used by cultural groups for religious worship."

Chief Minister Andrew Barr will unveil a suite of commitments for the Molonglo Valley. Picture by Karleen Minney

Mr Barr said only Labor could be trusted to deliver infrastructure Molonglo needed while also improving what locals loved about the area.

The Canberra Liberals earlier this month promised to build a police station in the Molonglo Valley if the party formed government after the October 19 election.

The Liberals have long sought to pressure Labor and the Greens into agreeing to build a police station in the Molonglo Valley.

Labor and the Greens voted together in the Legislative Assembly in 2021 to amend a Liberal motion that would have committed the government to establishing a police station in the Molonglo Valley by the end of 2022.

Meanwhile, Labor on Wednesday outlined a package of commitments for Weston Creek and Woden, which included upgrades at Southlands Mawson and Cooleman Court, upgraded lighting at community sports facilities, the completion of the Canberra Institute of Technology campus at Woden, light rail to Woden and an upgraded Canberra Hospital campus.

Fiona Carrick, the independent candidate for Murrumbidgee and a former long-serving president of the Woden Valley Community Council, criticised the plan.

Ms Carrick said the community would not buy "this lame attempt to claim that the expansion of the Canberra Hospital and business as usual upgrades to shops and schools is building our future".

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