More policing for Murwillumbah on the way

EXTRA policing and a 24-hour manned police station are on the way for Murwillumbah, according to a recent state government budget update.

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said the NSW Government was delivering on her key election commitment of 24/7 policing in four phases of state budget allocations and recruitment.

Saffin said she had received a progress report from the office of NSW Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley following the recent NSW Budget 2025-26.

“The NSW Police Department has advised that to date 10 authorised police positions have been allocated to the Tweed/Byron Police District specifically for Murwillumbah Police Station,” Saffin said.

While acknowledging that recruitment remained a challenge for all police commands, Saffin said the government was supporting schemes that encouraged people to become police officers.

Retention incentives include the most significant pay rise in memory for NSW Police officers, and paying recruits to study at the Goulburn academy has seen a 70 per cent increase in the number of applications.

The ‘Be a Cop in Your Hometown’ program encourages residents of Murwillumbah and its surrounding areas to consider a career in policing, allowing recruits to train and return to serve in their local community.

Phase 1 of the allocation includes three positions for a sergeant and two constables, which have been filled. Phase 2 will establish an additional three constable positions, for which recruitment is currently underway.

A sergeant and three constables in Phase 3 were allocated in last month’s State Budget and will be recruited in the coming year.

“The remaining five constable positions will be activated by 1 July 2026 as part of Phase 4, bringing the total of additional authorised police positions to 15,” Saffin said.