By LAURA WAKELY
ST ALBANS and Watergardens stations could have protective service officers (PSOs) by Christmas but its likely Sunshine will be one of the last.
A spokesperson from Public Transport Victoria (PTV) told Star construction for PSO facilities would begin on the two stations in the coming months.
He was unable to comment on which facilities would need to be added at either station, but earlier this year Police Minister Peter Ryan said PSOs would require an office to access police systems for records checks, space to hold people safely until police members arrive to take them into custody, as well as toilets for PSO use.
Once the upgrades are complete, it is up to Victoria Police to decide when PSOs will be deployed at the station.
The PTV spokesperson could not comment on when Ardeer, Deer Park, Albion, Ginifer or Keilor Plains would be ready for PSO rollout.
But, while the redevelopment of Sunshine Station has already begun as part of the Regional Rail Link (RRL) project, a spokesperson from the RRL Footscray to Deer Park project team told Star works would not be completed until mid-2014.
“The project has recently upgraded the Sun Crescent car park at Sunshine Railway Station, and we will shortly begin work to upgrade the car park in City Place, with additional spaces and increased lighting and CCTV,” the spokesperson said.
“The upgrade of the station will include facilities for any future deployment of PSOs.”
The Baillieu Government pledged to have 940 PSOs deployed across all metropolitan and major regional stations by November 2014.
More than 160 PSOs are already operational at 22 stations in Melbourne, with more being announced each week.
PSOs are in place in the West at Footscray, Yarraville, Laverton, Newport, Hoppers Crossing and Werribee stations.
Star previously revealed 71.3 per cent of people feel safe on Brimbank’s public transport system during the day, while just 20.2 per cent feel safe using it at night (Scared commuters, Star, 13 December 2011).
