Wattle Range Councillors are highly critical of State Government policies which have led to a modern house sitting empty for the past six years.
The brick structure was erected at Kalangadoo around 15 years ago after the combined police station and residence was sold.
A new station was erected in John Street along with a residence some distance away in Ann Street for the officer-in-charge of Kalangadoo police.
The position was vacated in 2017 and the residence has remained empty ever since as it can only be filled by police.
Kalangadoo resident Jane Fetherstonhaugh has championed the cause of filling the police house and her correspondence was considered at council’s August monthly meeting.
Councillor Chris Brodie said the situation reminded him of a satirical television program which highlighted the follies of government bureaucracies.
“This is straight out of Utopia,” Cr Brodie said.
Cr John Drew congratulated Ms Fetherstonhaugh and other Kalangadoo residents for bringing the matter to the attention of the council.
Cr Dale Price said the empty Kalangadoo police station was a resource which should be utilised but was going to waste.
He said that if the police did not require the Kalangadoo police station for operational purposes, then it should be sold.
“It is amazing that it can wallow,” Cr Price said.
“This inept government administration needs to be challenged.”
In a letter to independent Member for MacKillop Nick McBride, Police Minister Joe Szakacs said there are no current plans to reopen the Kalangadoo police station.
Mr Szakacs also said responsibility for the housing rests with the Department of Infrastructure and Transport and it is State Government policy that such houses can only be occupied by police officers as it is designated as a “single agency”.
Council resolved to write to Mr Szakacs and South Australian Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis advocating for the Kalangadoo police house to change from single to multi government agency use, in order for it to be used by all government employees.
Furthermore, the council will write to the same ministers, advocating for the Kalangadoo Police Station to also change in use (from single to multi government agency) or be sold if not used for police activities.
