A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed the station had been vacant since the middle of last year. 

“The police officer based at Balmoral was on personal leave and then retired, so the position has been vacant since about mid 2016,” she said.

“We advertised for the vacancy late last year but unfortunately we didn’t find a suitable applicant.

“We’ve re-advertised this year and hope to have the position filled shortly.”

Victoria police said service delivery to Balmoral has not been affected, with police responding from across the Southern Grampians Police Service Area.

However Ms Kealy said the closure was too long. 

“The Balmoral Police Station has now been closed for nine months, and community members are feeling vulnerable and concerned about police response times in the event of an emergency,” she said.

“With another recruitment round looming it is unlikely Balmoral will have their police station open for at least another three months.

“It is completely unacceptable that the Balmoral and surrounding community will have their local police station closed for over a year. 

“Under the Andrews Labor Government the one-man Minyip Police Station was closed for 18 months and the three-man Kaniva Police Station operated with only one officer for 12 months and was closed when the sole officer took an extended well-earned break.”

Ms Kealy claimed Labor put a freeze on police recruitment in 2014 and since country police stations have struggled to recruit staff simply due to lower police numbers.

“It is essential that the Balmoral station be reopened as soon as possible,” she said.

“The Minister for Police must urgently get more police on the beat in rural Victoria so that communities like Balmoral can feel safe with a police presence.”