Police and Liberal MLA for Narracan Gary Blackwood are disappointed funds for the relocation of the branch to the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) in Ballarat were not included in this year's budget.

Police had anticipated the move for all regional emergency calls to be directed to the Ballarat facility, which would be manned by call centre operators.

Senior police officers believe it will free up police staff in the Latrobe Valley to focus on frontline policing.

``The ability to provide that service (frontline policing) is restricted due to the implications placed upon us by allocating operational members to police communication duties at D24,'' Moe Senior Sergeant Cameron Blair said.

Sen Sgt Blair said he wanted police officers to provide a proactive service for the community such as increased foot patrols and bike patrols.

``We believe police can be better utilised within the community performing frontline duties...it promotes that general sense of wellbeing and safety,'' Sen Sgt Blair said.

In order to provide a 24 hour service, 17 police officers from the Latrobe Valley are needed to staff D24.

``The commitment from members of Latrobe to continue to provide that service is outstanding,'' Sen Sgt Blair said.

Moe Police Station officer in charge, Sen Sgt Chris Pegg said while phone operation was important, it was unnecessary for highly trained police to staff the D24 branch and funding of staff for ESTA would address this.

``It would open up so many opportunities for us so we can do frontline policing,'' Sen Sgt Pegg said.

``It's always been fully accepted that people want to see police on the streets, it makes them feel safer.

``You cannot underestimate the value of that.

``We are disappointed the funding didn't come through, but we're still going to provide the best service we can with what we've got.

``We ask the community to be patient with us and understanding.''

The State Government has not taken a stance on the issue and in a written statement to The Express this week, neither confirmed or denied plans to relocate Moe D24.

The statement did not make it clear whether any of the $1.75 billion in funding for police in the State Budget would go towards staffing the Ballarat ESTA with emergency call takers.

In October 2006, then Police Minister Tim Holding denied plans to move the state's D24 units to Ballarat.

But senior Latrobe Valley police at the time were adamant D24 would move.

Liberal MLA for Narracan Gary Blackwood called on Police Minister Bob Cameron to fund staffing for the ESTA in State Parliament on 16 April.

``Police who should be maintaining a presence in the broader community are having to fill these administrative positions on the communications roster,'' Mr Blackwood said in his address.

``Police are being seconded from nearby stations at Morwell and Traralgon to fill these positions.

``The priority of relocating the responsibilities of the Moe D24 unit to Ballarat must be considered urgent.''

Mr Blackwood has not yet received a response from Mr Cameron.