Member for Monaro John Barilaro visited Braidwood on Monday to speak with local police officers about the current state of the station and their priorities for the upgrade.

Mr Barilaro said it would be the Monaro Police District and Palerang area police, not the State Government, who would determine the scope of the new facility.

“We are committed to redeveloping the police station and providing police with the facilities they need to protect our communities,” Mr Barilaro told the Braidwood Times on Monday.

“The redevelopment will transform the existing station into a modern facility that will serve the community now and into the future.”

There is as yet no timeframe for the redevelopment. Mr Barilaro said the money had been allocated in the Budget and the redevelopment would take as long as necessary.

Monaro Police District Superintendent Paul Condon said plans for the new facility would be open to community consultation and based on future projections for the growth of the region.

Superintendent Condon said they would be looking at existing models for new police stations.

The one chosen would best address the Braidwood policing situation, not just now, but into the future, he said. “Policing is a matter of police and community working together to reduce crime,” Superintendent Condon said. “The new facility is all about getting boots on the ground.”

Both Mr Barilaro and Superintendent Condon stressed the importance of working with the Braidwood community to ensure that the new facility would be sited appropriately and meet community expectations and needs.