Police and Justice Complex on Track, Catania
Author: Vincent Catania
Published on: 23-June-2011
The State Government has appointed an award-winning architectural firm, Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland, to design Carnarvon’s new $52million Police and Justice Complex.
Local member Vince Catania said “This important project has been championed by the Carnarvon community and the appointment of an architect is a significant milestone. The community reference group will represent the views of the community in the creation of the new Police and Justice, ensuring the community continues to stay involved in the development of the complex” The new complex will be sited at the corner of Robinson St and Babbage Island road.
Treasurer and Attorney General Christian Porter said the company has a long and successful track record in designing similar buildings in Perth and regional Western Australia.
“For Carnarvon, this complex will provide greatly improved police, court and corrections facilities and deliver a distinctive and impressive new civic building to the town and district,” he said.
Minister for Police Rob Johnson said the new complex would provide Carnarvon police with an important link to the courthouse to enable them to better manage offenders.
“The new facilities and equipment at the station will be purpose-built for modern policing, helping local police continue the excellent work they have been doing to protect the community in this district,” he said.
Mr Porter said the complex was a collaborative project between five State Government agencies with the support of the local government and community.
The State Government last year approved a $52.5million budget allocation for the project, comprising $43million from capital funds and $9.5million from Royalties for Regions Gascoyne Revitalisation Fund.
The building will accommodate courts, tribunals and registry, a community justice service centre, a police station and a shared custody facility.
The tender was awarded to Cox Howlett & Bailey Woodland after an evaluation of five bids by the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Building Management and Works division.
Cox will partner Paterson Group Architects, a firm with a permanent local office in Carnarvon.
Cox Howlett and Bailey Woodland have previously worked on new courts in Perth, Fremantle and Rockingham and police facilities in Bunbury. The company has won many architectural awards in Australia and overseas.
Final designs for the Carnarvon complex are expected by the end of the year with construction due to start in January 2013 and be completed by October 2014.
