July 20, 2016
Nanango Police are all set to move into their new police station with only a few finishing touches to go on the $2.2 million project.
Officer-in-charge Sergeant Jason Newton described the new building on Tuesday as “magnificent”.
When talk of expanding Nanango Police Station was first discussed, the plan was to simply add a demountable building to the current station.
But this was quickly abandoned when officials came out to inspect the old building.
Work on the new facility began on February 1 this year.
The police residence, which had been located on the site, was lifted, shifted further down Henry Street, and renovated.
Sgt Newton said the new station had been purpose-built for modern policing, with separate areas for separate tasks.
There is a sound-proof room for recording interviews, a separate witness room, and a fingerprint area.
Currently all these tasks are squeezed into the one small room in the old station.
A large diesel generator has been installed to ensure the station always has power. Incredibly, electricity is a luxury that Nanango police have had to do without until now whenever a power outage occurred.
The new building also includes a secure detention cell to hold people in custody for short periods prior to court appearances.
CCTV monitors this cell as well as the evidence room and other parts of the station.
“This is the sort of police station which will serve the community for decades,” Sgt Newton said.
“It’s also a vote of confidence for the community, and recognition that the State Government and the Queensland Police Service want to ensure that the community has the best facilities.”
Sgt Newton said the Driver’s Licence service would continue to be offered at the new station. An area for licences has been included in the entry foyer, with a screen which can be lowered for photographs.
The 12 police officers currently stationed at Nanango will enjoy finally having a separate meal room, as well as showers and a small staff recreation area.
This feature, located at the rear of the station, will be dedicated to the memory of former Nanango officer-in-charge Russell Wendt who died from a brain tumour in 2010.
Russell was OIC at Nanango from 2002 until his death and was much respected in the local community.
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Kingaroy Police Station
(Photo: Conrad Gargett Architects)
Kingaroy’s new multi-million dollar police station is also rapidly taking shape.
The $8 million-plus project, which includes a new watchhouse (already in use) and the relocation and upgrade of the Scenes of Crime Unit, is due for completion in early December.
Kingaroy Police Officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Duane Frank said on Tuesday work to install the roof on the main police station building would begin this week.
The public will enter the complex via glass doors fronting Alford Street which will open into a large foyer and waiting area.
Contrary to rumours, the building is just one-storey but is very spacious inside.
“The station is being built for the next 50 years,” Snr Sgt Frank said.
“It will be able to accommodate growth in the town and more police as the need arises.”
The new police station has internal access to the watchhouse, which can hold inmates overnight.
A covered and secure walkway links the watchhouse to the courthouse.
Tenders are currently being let for the upgrade of the Kingaroy courthouse.
