Gunnedah Shire Council has decided to defer making a decision on whether to subsidise housing for police in the town.
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At Wednesday's meeting, councillors passed a procedural motion to delay a decision to further investigate a request made by the NSW Police Force and its members association in 2018.
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It comes after councillor Rob Hooke pointed to a presentation earlier in the day made by Police Association of NSW (PANSW) member Terry Melville.
"I strongly believe further investigation should be carried out, however, I think we should defer consideration until the council is fully aware of the costing as related to the 2019/2020 budget of the council," Cr Hooke said at the meeting.
"I think this is an extremely important issue that faces our community. There is absolutely no doubt that we have a shortage of police.
"[I think we should] see if there's some way forward in the future to assist police in our community."
I think this is an extremely important issue that faces our community. There is absolutely no doubt that we have a shortage of police.
- Councillor Rob Hooke
Cr Colleen Fuller supported the motion, saying "we need to do something" to address the police shortage in the town.
"If it's going to bring police to Gunnedah, I'm happy for that to be put forward," she said.
Cr Hasler said a further investigation was "a waste of time and money" and government royalties from mining in the area should be invested back into the town.
"That is a state government responsibility to provide subsidised housing to police officers in all parts of the state," he said.
"They can put some of that income back and provide for police."
Cr Hasler said if the council was to provide housing, it would "set a precedent for other councils".
"Should council take on responsibility of providing housing for other professions?" he said.
"Why set the precedent for our small community?"
I see this as a waste of time and money.
- Councillor Owen Hasler
At its November ordinary meeting, councillors resolved to authorise council staff to investigate the request from the NSW Police Force and bring a further report to council outlining the findings of the investigation.
In a letter to the council in November, PANSW cited "ongoing" staffing issues at the Gunnedah police station and proposed that the council obtain and rent housing to police transferring into town; or provide a subsidy through a rental assistance scheme.
PANSW said the proposed rental assistance was "the only viable option available to solve the problem regarding unfulfilled vacancies" at the Gunnedah station.
In the 2018 letter, the association said there were currently two vacant constable positions at the station, which were "unlikely to be filled" without some assistance.
