Port Stephens Commander Superintendent Charles Haggart said applications for the job had been open for ‘a while’.

“There is a position to support Dave and have two police officers in the area,” he said.

Applications will close on March 15.

A public meeting was held last month for community members who were unsatisfied with the police presence in the area.

“We will continue to follow up issues raised at the meeting and maintain attention to the area,” Superintendent Haggart indicated.

Meanwhile talk of establishing a crime prevention taskforce is underway.

The idea, which was suggested at the public meeting, has already gained momentum, with interest shown from police, Great Lakes Council and Member for Port Stephens Craig Baumann.

Superintendent Haggart said a new crime prevention officer who has just started with the Port Stephens local area command will make the taskforce a priority.

At last week’s Great Lakes Council meeting, councillor Len Roberts asked council to investigate establishing an organisation similar to one which is operating in Forster Tuncurry.

Cr Roberts said a taskforce would enable the community to devise a crime prevention program using Forster Tuncurry as an example.

“It would give us the chance to look at alternative ways of dealing with crime and the different opportunities.

“For example in Forster they found main crime was break and enter, so they developed a pretty good program on educating people about security,” he said.

Councillor Roberts admitted that it would be difficult as Tea Gardens was not in the same command as Forster, and the taskforce could require working in with Port Stephens Council and local police out of the area.

“But it all depends on what we need.

“A report would canvas what needs to be addressed.”

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