By Alesha Capone
The $45 million Wyndham Police Complex, which is set to replace the Werribee police station, is a step closer with the naming of a project team to spearhead its development.
Once built, the complex – which will accommodate about 550 police members, support staff and employees from partner agencies – will be the largest Victoria Police facility outside Melbourne CBD.
Victoria Police on Tuesday announced design consultancy Architectus had been appointed to lead the design of the complex.
Engineering and professional technical services firm Meinhardt will deliver engineering services for the complex, while cost and project consultancy Donald Cant Watts Corke has been appointed as project manager.
Tuesday’s statement said “detailed planning” for the new complex was under way, with construction expected to start mid-2019 and be completed by the end of 2020.
The complex will be part of the broader Wyndham Justice Precinct, which is being developed as part of the Werribee National Employment and Innovation Cluster.
The precinct, once complete, will provide integrated justice services for the Wyndham area, with policing, court services, corrections and health and council services located within close proximity of each other.
Tuesday’s statement said 42 new police would hit the beat in the Westgate division (which covers the Wyndham, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong municipalities) by June next year, including 12 frontline police for Wyndham and additional specialist family violence and criminal investigation officers.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said the Wyndham Police Complex was “critical to support our record boost to police numbers to keep our community safe”.
“Our police deserve the best facilities and we are delivering a state-of-the art police station for our officers and the residents of Wyndham,” Ms Neville said.
