Mark Shelton,Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management
The Hodgman majority Liberal Government is delivering its commitment to boost front-line police numbers and build modern facilities for our police and emergency services, as part of our plan to keep Tasmanians safe.
We made a number of election commitments to better protect Tasmanians which included increasing police numbers by 125, building new police stations at Longford and New Norfolk ($5 million each) and building a new combined Emergency Services Hub at Sorell.
This $12 million Hub at Sorell will be built on a brand new greenfield site and will house emergency personnel in a modern and well‑equipped facility. The Hub will be particularly important in helping to build a positive working relationship between emergency personnel and the community they serve.
Today we are delivering on our commitment to acquire land and begin planning for the Hub with building expected to start next year and completed in early to mid-2022.
The Sorell Council had a substantial parcel of land in central Sorell which is ideal for the Hub and we thank the Council for supporting this important community facility.
The South East region and Sorell in particular is one of Tasmania’s fastest growing areas in the state. The Sorell Hub will also provide accommodation for the SES, which at present do not have a volunteer presence in Sorell.
It will also house the increased number of police resulting from the Government’s First‑Class, Next Generation Police Service initiative.
The Hodgman majority Liberal Government is the strongest supporter of our police and emergency services and this new state-of-the-art Emergency Services Hub at Sorell will help make Tasmania’s South-East communities safer.
