The next step has been taken to deliver a new City Police Station. Photo: Albert McKnight.
Work on Canberra’s new City Police Station and ACT Policing headquarters has taken a step forward with providers called on to suggest solutions.
Infrastructure Canberra has released a request for expressions of interest (REOI) for “third parties interested in providing property options and solutions” to come forward.
Director-General Gilliam Geraghty said all options would be assessed.
“We’re looking for a value for money outcome for the ACT government,” she said.
When asked by Region if a decision had been made whether the new facilities would be housed in a purpose-built structure or by retrofitting an existing facility, Ms Geraghty said that hadn’t been decided.
“It’s all of the above, so any options that people would like to come forward. We have done a scan of different property owners or landowners in the geographic vicinity that we’ve identified and … we are sending invitations to those people who are identified,” she said.
“However, if there’s any other people who feel that they may have a property solution for us, they are invited to get in contact with us.”
The expectation is for the City Police Station and ACT Policing headquarters to be housed in the same building.
Police Minister Dr Marisa Paterson described the REOI as an important step forward in delivering modern facilities for ACT Policing.
“We know that ACT Police have some very specific requirements in their infrastructure, in terms of technology and security, we’ve also got the unique setup of the watch house, so these are all requirements that will need to be met,” she said.
“It’ll be a great process to see what the market comes forward with.”
Infrastructure Canberra estimates a new City Police Station would be built by 2030.
Dr Paterson said that was still the goal and acknowledged ACT Policing City members would have to keep working out of a building that had reached the end of its life in the meantime.
“We want to see police in modern upgraded facilities and support them in the really important work they do, they have incredibly challenging jobs and we don’t want them to have to be worrying about if the roof’s leaking when it rains,” she said.
“I am very keen to see this progress as fast as possible.”
Dr Paterson wouldn’t say if the government had earmarked its own land just in case the REOI didn’t produce the desired result.
“It is thought that there are solutions out there, there’s a lot of development as the community knows around the city and a lot going on, so we’re very keen to see what comes out of this process.”
ACT Policing Chief Police Officer Scott Lee acknowledged that while this was a conversation that’s been ongoing for years before he stepped into the role, the importance of this announcement shouldn’t be underestimated.
“I think we need to be making sure we’re looking forward here, acknowledge the significance of this announcement and this is actually about putting in place a strategy to actually replace city police station and also city headquarters,” he said.
“The approach to market is a significant milestone to consider options to ensure that ACT policing has modern fit-for-purpose facilities that enable us to meet the needs of the Canberra community well into the future.”
The announcement’s been welcomed by the police union, describing the move as a “long-overdue and much-needed” step forward.
AFPA president Alex Caruana said the proposed new facilities would be vital to delivering accessible, efficient and community-focused policing.
“This process is an important step toward delivering the kind of infrastructure ACT Policing needs, not just today, but for the future.”
Options from the REOI process will be put to the government by the end of the year.
