January 17, 2017
The story of how a plan to add an extra room to the former Nanango Police Station ballooned into a $2.5 million dollar project was the subject of lively discussion last Thursday.
Assistant Police Commissioner Tony Wright told an audience of about 60 people who attended the Nanango police station’s official opening that the original plan was to simply add an extra room to the demountable building that housed the former station.
But thanks to two years of intensive lobbying by Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, that plan was thrown overboard in favour of building a completely new, modern station and consigning the former building to the scrapheap.
Police Minister Mark Ryan, who had come to Nanango to perform the official opening, said initial costings for the new station estimated it could be built for around $1 million.
But rather than just build a facility that would meet the town’s current requirements, the State Government had elected to build with an eye to the future.
Right now, Mr Ryan said, Nanango had a complement of 10 officers who manned the station over two shifts.
But the new $2.5 million facility had the capacity to accommodate 22 staff.
This meant the Nanango police district’s current population of 8,000 would have to double before another upgrade would be necessary.
“The new Nanango Police Station has been designed to meet the foreseeable needs and challenges of Nanango, Maidenwell, the Bunya Mountains and surrounding communities,” Mr Ryan said.
“Nanango Police have consistently delivered a very high level of service to the community in the past, and it is my hope this new station will enable the continuation of this service now, and into the future.”
Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said he was confident the development of the new station was a step forward in continuing a proud background of policing in the Nanango area, which dated back to 1864.
“It is fundamental that the service we provide is adequate to the current and future needs of the surrounding community,” Commissioner Stewart said.
“The opening of the new Nanango Police Station means we are placing local officers in the best possible position to respond to and address community safety issues in a timely, proactive and preventative manner.
“With the station now operational, police will continue to partner with other emergency services within the Nanango Division to protect property, preserve safety and prevent crime.”
Other official guests at the opening included Member for Maranoa David Littleproud, Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell and Division 2 Cr Roz Frohloff.
Police representatives included Nanango staff and representatives from other South Burnett police stations, as well as former officers who had served at Nanango or had a close association with policing in the region.
Representatives from local emergency services groups, schools, court houses and churches were also in attendance.
After the unveiling of a plaque to mark the occasion, guests were treated to a guided tour of the station and treated to a light finger food lunch.
Nanango Officer-In-Charge Sergeant Jason Newton, who moved his staff into the building when it was finished last August, said he was delighted with the new facility.
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said she was also very pleased.
“Our police officers in Nanango did a remarkable job in what was a very old and run down building, so they thoroughly deserve this new station,” she said.
“Today’s official opening is a fantastic outcome for our region and it makes me really proud to know that Nanango now has such an amazing new facility.”
Footnote: Kingaroy’s new $8 million police station is on schedule at the moment to be completed by January 28. Its official opening is likely to be held later this year.
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