Belconnen's new $23.5M police station constructed

Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Simon Corbell, announced that construction of the $23.5 million Belconnen Police Station has been completed with the operational fit-out phase now underway.

"This is a significant milestone for the project, which will provide the Belconnen community and ACT Policing with a state-of-the-art police station to best serve the Territory both now and well into the future," Mr Corbell said.

"The 2800 square metre building will house more than 100 police officers and staff, and feature facilities such as a public access foyer and counter, five holding cells, incident rooms, welfare counselling, an area for victims of crime, a muster room and breath analysis area.

"The ACT Government's commitment of $23.5 million for design and construction will ensure high quality policing services for the community, as well as honouring our commitment to establish an energy efficient building for the future."

In keeping with the ACT Government's Draft Action Plan for building energy efficiency and waste recovery, a number of environmentally-friendly initiatives feature in the station including rainwater harvesting, solar hot water systems and chilled beam air conditioners; using less energy and creating a healthier and more sustainable working environment.

Mr Corbell said an extensive consultation process was carried out between ACT Policing and the Government to ensure the new station best services police and staff.

"While the previous Belconnen Police Station has served ACT Policing and the community well, the building was well past its use-by-date as a modern operational policing facility. The new station addresses these concerns to better accommodate modern neighbourhood policing."

The building is located on the corner of Benjamin Way and Market Street in Belconnen, adjacent to the Winchester Police Centre, providing a "police precinct'' in Canberra's north.

Construction of the new facility began in May 2010 with the operational fit-out expected to be completed by March 2012.