NSW Police withdraw from talks on council depot purchase

A council spokesman confirmed that the authority had advised it no longer wanted to purchase the building at 2 Bourke Street for the police station.

Mayor Bob Kirk said the verbal advice came on Wednesday but nothing had been received in writing at this stage.

"I do not know their rationale or the options available to them," he said.

The Mayor said he wasn't concerned one way or the other police had made an unsolicited approach and the property wasn't on the open market.

The advice arrived after Tuesday night's council meeting, which set a May 25 deadline for a response from NSW Police on whether it wanted to pursue the purchase.

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General manager Warwick Bennett declined further comment at this stage. The Post has sought comment from NSW Police on reasons for the pull-out and options for another location.

On Tuesday, the authority advised that it had been in discussions with the council but the matter remained "commercial in confidence."

The Post understands the state organisation will now pursue the establishment of a station at the Goulburn Police Academy.

The state government allocated $25m for the new police station, following a 2019 election commitment. At that stage it intended building the complex on the existing site.

NSW Police has been negotiating with the council since February to buy the old depot, which sits on 1.1 hectares. The latter estimated a sale could fetch more than $2 million, which would go towards the aquatic centre redevelopment.

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But talks appeared to stall when councillors asked police for a "fair market price" plus $50,000 to ensure the community wasn't disadvantaged. Currently, community groups including Goulburn U3A and the Goulburn and District Art Society occupy the building.

Draft plans had been drawn up to accommodate them in Australian Rail Track Corporation owned buildings in Sloane Street. Mr Bennett said ARTC had all but agreed to lease this space over 15 years at $800 per annum. However the council would have to spend $250,000 on an upgrade.

Some groups had given "positive feedback" about the move, Mr Bennett said. But Goulburn U3A president Brian Spilsbury told The Post on Tuesday that while his group was willing to talk to the council, members were happy with the existing space.

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Meantime, the future of the Bourke Street depot will be discussed at a May 11 councillor briefing session. Cr Kirk said this would include its sale, construction of a community centre or to "do nothing."

"There may also be other options," he said.

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