TWO of Kalangadoo’s most prominent community members say the town has been forgotten by elected representatives who pledged to reinstate the town’s sole police officer after more than three years without a permanent police presence.
Lifetime resident Peter Savage and The Shop owner Kerry Dowdell have called for a definitive answer on the future of the single-man station, with Mr Savage saying the town was tired of being “fobbed off” by local and state governments.
The pair – who are both recipients of Wattle Range Council’s Citizen of the Year Award are furious the newly-built station has been neglected since the sole officer stationed at Kalangadoo started leave in January 2017.
Mr Savage said the lack of maintenance at the police station had created a mess along the town’s main street.
“There has been no upkeep of that house in years and the overgrown weeds and lawns are an absolute eyesore,” he said.
“It is one of the nicest houses in the town and someone could be living there, but instead it is sitting there looking terrible.
“What kind of message are we sending to people when they see that in our main street?
“I would prefer to have a police officer in Kalangadoo, but we just want a decision made either way so we can have closure because we have been waiting three and a half years for an answer.”
Ms Dowdell echoed Mr Savage’s comments, saying she was disappointed the premises had been visibly neglected.
“If they were not going to replace the police officer, they could have rented it out to a family or a couple, which would have been great for the town,” she said.
“The police officers used to come with their families, the kids went to the school, they played sport and were part of our community.
“It’s now a vacant house which is not being used, which is really disappointing.”
COMMITMENT NOT HONOURED
BEFORE the 2018 state election, then Shadow Police Minister Stephan Knoll committed to retaining a permanent police officer in Kalangadoo, saying the Liberal Party had absolutely no plans to close any police station.
Police Minister Corey Wingard has since claimed he does not have the authority to direct the Police Commissioner to keep the station open – despite extending the opening hours of metropolitan police stations against the advice of the Police Commissioner.
Mr Wingard said he was awaiting the completion of a statewide review into regional policing – which has been under way since 2018 – to be finalised before any announcement on the future of the station.
The minister has failed to respond to three requests for information relating to the country policing review, but SA Police said the review was currently on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, a spokesperson said police did not have a time frame regarding the release of the final outcomes.
Mr Savage said the community felt abandoned and deserved a definitive answer on the future of the facility.
“Everyone promised to get a police officer in that station before the election and absolutely nothing has happened,” he said.
“We have been completely fobbed off and forgotten about.
“It is clear everyone just hopes this issue will go away.
“I would prefer to have a policeman, but I think we just want a decision made either way so we can get closure.”
Ms Dowdell emphasised the importance of a visible police presence and said it was imperative in preventing crime and increasing community responsibility and accountability.
“The old police officer used to park the paddy wagon out the front of the station and it acted as a deterrent because people knew police was in town,” she said.
“Kalangadoo is a pretty safe place, but the oldies like having the police here to feel safe.
“But it’s not just about crime for us, it is about all of the other services police provide such as motor number checks and statutory declarations.
“We used to be able to do that in Kalangadoo and now we have make an appointment and travel to either Mount Gambier or Penola to do it.
“This is a farming community and farmers do not have the time to organise thing like that and travel, especially when we have been able to do it here for years.”
COMMUNITY DESERVES BETTER
Shadow Police Minister Lee Odenwalder said it was clear residents felt abandoned and angry about the government’s inaction on the issue.
“Residents of Kalangadoo and surrounding communities deserve better than this,” he said.
“Hours at suburban police stations – including in the Premier’s own seat – have been extended against the advice of the Police Commissioner and against all the evidence.
“Yet, despite promises made before the election by the now government, the people of Kalangadoo have been without a local cop for three and a half years.”
Wattle Range mayor Des Noll has taken a renewed interest in the station, saying he hopes to discuss the issue at this month’s council meeting.
In the lead up to the 2018 council election, then electoral candidate Mr Noll called on Premier Steven Marshall to sack the Police Minister, saying Mr Wingard had no idea.
Mr Noll said Mr Wingard’s previous comments shifting responsibility for staffing matters onto Police Commissioner Grant Stevens were a cop-out.
“ He is not representing the community,” Mr Noll told The Border Watch in October 2018.
“Kalangadoo has been totally ignored by Mr Wingard and I will continue to speak out for the community.”
Since the election, Mr Noll has made no representation to the Police Minister about the situation in Kalangadoo, but said he had made quite a lot of contact with the Limestone Coast officer in charge.
“I have been in contact with people who are doing something and clearly the minister has not done anything,” Mr Noll said.
“My approach is to go to directly to the Limestone Coast Local Service Area commander.”
