A $15.6 million Waurn Ponds police complex set to open on Friday will not be a 24-hour station, despite promises from the State Government.

The station, in the marginal electorate of South Barwon held by Liberal Andrew Katos, is close to several other Bellarine Peninsula stations that recently had opening hours cut by Chief Commissioner Ken Lay.

The region is shaping as a critical battleground ahead of the November 29 election.

The station, which also includes a State Emergency Service headquarters, will be open 16 hours a day.

Police Minister Kim Wells, who as recently as August said Waurn Ponds would have a 24-hour station, backed Mr Lay to make decisions about police resourcing.

Both sides of government have recently avoided making commitments about the opening hours of stations, as police command have signalled  their intent to move away from extended station hours at the expense of having officers on patrol.

It had previously been common for governments to make commitments about rosters, despite the chief commissioner having control of resourcing. Funding was first committed to the Waurn Ponds station in the 2011-12 budget.

"The Waurn Ponds community and surrounding areas can be assured that they receive a 24-hour police response from front line officers, every day of the year," Mr Wells said.

"This includes proactive divisional van patrols by police who are protecting local communities.

"Operational matters and staffing requirements are determined by the Chief Commissioner."

Opposition police spokesman Wade Noonan described the change in hours as a major broken promise.

"Denis Napthine, Kim Wells and Andrew Katos have trumpeted for more than a year that the Waurn Ponds Police Station would be a 24-hour operational station," he said.

Fairfax Media reported in June that at least four stations expected to have 24-hour rosters and given funding of almost $40 million during the 2010 election campaign - including some that are yet to be built - were unlikely to meet the commitment.

In the marginal seat of Bellarine, held by Labor MP Lisa Neville, opening hours at Portarlington, Drysdale and Queenscliff stations were cut despite a campaign from locals. Mr Wells and Mr Lay then announced a six-month community consultation period as part of a review of the new rosters. Bellarine borders South Barwon.

Improved rosters were discussed at length in the Victoria Police Blue Paper, which Mr Lay hoped would start a discussion about the future of policing and a shift from models based on stations with "a day's horse ride between them."

The paper also urged a move away from government funding commitments specifically for new police officers and stations, as the force had a limited discretionary spend. Neither party has made an announcement regarding a funding commitment for extra police officers during the election campaign, despite the Coalition announcing their law and order policy seven months before the 2010 poll.