28/2/96
The first stage of the State Government's multi-million dollar program to improve police facilities has taken shape with the opening of the new Kwinana police station.
Police Minister Bob Wiese said the new $1.79 million police facility was essential to assist working police officers deliver the level of service which the community required and had a right to expect.
"It is an investment in the community's fight against crime," Mr Wiese said.
"It is essential to supply police officers with the right facilities and equipment necessary to do their job effectively and efficiently."
Mr Wiese said the new Kwinana police station would operate around the clock, cater for additional general duties staff and establish a criminal investigation branch for the region.
He said the previous government had neglected any form of development or even planning to increase the police facilities in Kwinana to keep abreast of the high rate of population growth.
"It is shameful that nothing was done to the station during a decade of Labor Government which blatantly ignored the plight of police officers operating in a building that was 40 years old and originally designed to house only two officers," Mr Wiese said.
He said the State Government had allocated $52 million over three years for new equipment and to upgrade metropolitan and country police stations and the new Kwinana police station was the first major development in this program.
New police stations in Forrestfield and Leeman would be opened in the next two weeks and the new Scarborough police station was currently being completed.
Mr Wiese said the new Kwinana station had been designed using the new Western Australian police building code, which had been nominated for national awards.
The building had a projected life span of 50 years and was designed to expand with future staff increases.
"The striking architectural features complement the changing face of the Kwinana region and its prominent location will provide for better access by the local community," Mr Wiese said.
Media contact: Mark Thompson 222 9595 / 322 2311
