THE Moyhu community is pleading with Victoria Police and the state government to fill a half-year vacancy at the one-officer Moyhu Police Station, amid a reported surge in reckless behaviour and crime.

Former Leading Senior Constable Jason Bray retired from Victoria Police in October last year leaving the one-man-station at Moyhu vacant.

Police from Whitfield, Glenrowan and Wangaratta have been patrolling the area since, but the community is concerned this is not enough without a permanent police presence.

Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy raised the issue in State Parliament, after it was brought to his attention by a local resident.

“Moyhu is a resilient and close-knit community… but without a local police presence, that sense of safety and security is being slowly eroded,” he said.

“We cannot allow this vacancy to remain unfilled while issues begin to escalate.”

Mr McCurdy said residents have reported a rise in antisocial behaviour - late-night hooning, unsafe use of electric bikes on footpaths, and a growing sense of unease.

“This is about giving Moyhu the resources it needs to stay safe and to thrive,” he said.

“A 25-minute response from Wangaratta simply isn’t good enough.”

Moyhu resident and vice-president of the Moyhu Action Group, Haylee Currie, said the township needed an officer back, noting that incidents of thefts and speeding had increased over the past six months.

“We have a lot of activity out here and it’s more than what people realise,” she said.

“There’s a lot of tourism; there’s a lot of caravans coming through the town and you have your locals hooning around.

“I think if we had a police presence these things would be under wraps a little more… they’re minor police issues but in a small town they can quickly become larger issues.”

Ms Currie said incoming rezoning of land under the Moyhu Township Development plan to potentially free up to 124 residential lots in the town would also increase the need of a local police presence.

Co-owner of the Moyhu Hotel, Melissa Wilson, said it has been difficult to keep in touch with potential disturbances around town as a publican without a local police officer.

“In my capacity it’s horrible not having a local, just knowing that if there is an incident in town there’s no one nearby,” she said.

“It’s very much a topic of conversation in town.

"Moyhu is a wonderful, safe community and we just want to keep it that way."

Ms Wilson said she feared the role currently being covered by Glenrowan and Whitfield based police could burn out officers, who have been covering a “significant” area over the past six months.

While Mr McCurdy could not directly address whether he would fill the station if the Coalition were to be elected next year, he said The Nationals would always stand up for law and order in regional communities.

MOYHU A SAFE COMMUNITY: POLICE

A Victoria Police spokesman said Moyhu was one of the safest communities in the region, according to the latest Crime Statistics Agency figures showing the township recorded 25 offences for the 2024 calendar year.

“Wangaratta police continue to undertake regular patrols of Moyhu,” the spokesman said.

“Regular patrols will continue in the area to ensure Moyhu’s crime rate remains as low as last year.”

The spokesman said Victoria Police currently has more than 1000 vacancies statewide.

The force reported a surge of 50 per cent in more recruits joining Victoria Police in the past month, since police lowered the entry score and created exemptions for recently employed emergency service or defence force personnel.

“We are prioritising recruitment across the organisation, focusing on areas with higher vacancy rates and crime rates,” the spokesman said.

“Recruitment for the Moyhu position is progressing in line with these priorities, and planning is underway to advertise the role and commence the selection process in the coming months.”

Mr McCurdy called on Minister for Police, Anthony Carbines, to urgently fill the vacancy, reminding parliament that when it comes to safety, regional communities deserve the same level of support as anywhere else in Victoria.

A state government spokesperson said Victoria Police worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of the community and boasted more members on the beat than any other state.

“We have invested a record $4.5 billion into Victoria Police to recruit more than 3,600 members and deliver the infrastructure and technology they need,” they said.

“Of these new members, 38 new police officers have been allocated to the Wangaratta region, including 19 family violence specialist police.”

Operational decisions including the location and deployment of members are made by the Chief Commissioner at Victoria Police and not the government.