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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-09-28 Daily Xml
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PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: NEW MURRAY BRIDGE POLICE STATION

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (11:42): I move:

That the 412th report of the Public Works Committee, entitled the New Murray Bridge Police Station, be noted.

Over the past decade, Murray Bridge and the surrounding district has seen strong growth in population and an increase of between 14,000 and 20,000 people in eight years from 2001 to 2009. It is forecast that the growth will continue, with the expectation that there will be around 30,000 people in the district by 2025.

The existing police station at 11 Bridge Street, Murray Bridge is of a 1960s vintage, with an office extension and cells constructed in 1985. It is not capable of accommodating anticipated staff increases or the need to improve functionality from integrated policing units that will come to the district over the foreseeing years.

In 2008, the funding for the new police station at Murray Bridge was approved. The facility will house operational support facilities from SAPOL, which include an expanded patrol base, a CIB, a crime scene investigation unit, forensic services and a criminal justice service. It will also house a new police station fronting Swanport Road with direct public access.

The proposed new station is designed to accommodate expanded police resources comprising of 70 sworn officers and six administrative positions. The station is further designed for future integration, with an adjoining court building and allowing the sharing of cell facilities to reduce cost.

The police station anticipates the need of the Murray Bridge community based on these population forecasts up to 2030. The pre-tender estimate for the project capital cost is $12,613,776. The project is due for completion in October 2012. Given this, pursuant to section 12(C) of the Parliamentary Committees Act, the Public Works Committee reports to the parliament that it recommends the public works.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (11:44): I rise to support the work that the Public Works Committee has done in regards to the new Murray Bridge Police Station, and it cannot come before time. It certainly came to the fore in the debate following the announcement of the proposed Mobilong Prison in September 2006, that was announced on the front page of The Advertiser, as I indicated in a speech yesterday.

Murray Bridge has been in need of a new police facility for some years and, with the proposal to have the new high security prison built at Mobilong, it certainly came to the fore that it was absolutely essential that upgraded facilities be placed in Murray Bridge. It will be on an excellent site with good access off Swanport Road, one of our main thoroughfares through Murray Bridge.

I note from the site plans that there is room to build a new courthouse, and I hope that that happens sooner rather than later, because I can see some logistical problems with the issues of prisoners or people who need to be between the police station and the courthouse, which is on Bridge Street, next to the current police station. So, the sooner we have everything in one place, the better. This will become the headquarters for the local service area for the Riverland and Mallee and it will be a great boom for Murray Bridge. In fact, it would be better if we did not have crime; we would not have to build these great stations to combat crime. However, the reality is that we do have crime throughout the state and, sadly—

Mr Goldsworthy: Throughout the world.

Mr PEDERICK: —throughout the world, as the member for Kavel indicates. We have to make sure that we have the appropriate facilities, the appropriate staff and the appropriate number of police officers in place to combat crime. I note the $12.62 million of expenditure and the forecast for 2025, that the building would be able to accommodate up to 102 staff. I also note that the population forecast for Murray Bridge will bring the population up to 35,000 by 2030. That is quite an upgrade from the 22,000-odd people who are there currently.

There are some exciting developments happening around Murray Bridge. We have the Gifford Hill development, with the proposed 3,500 houses, in conjunction with a new race track next to the freeway. Essentially, that is 40 per cent of what is currently at Murray Bridge being built there over time, so we will need centres like this to support the growing town.

As I indicated, the site does allow for future collocation with the courthouse. I repeat to the parliament: the sooner this happens, the better. I hope the government has a good look at this to make sure that we can get all the facilities needed to combat crime and ensure that justice prevails.

The station is designed to accommodate an expanded patrol base and specialist areas, such as, a criminal investigation branch, a crime scene investigation branch and criminal justice services, and it will have a compliant cell complex. I note that the member for Taylor has outlined some of these issues. The project is due for completion in October 2012 and should be up and running soon after that, so, well done. There is some good news for Murray Bridge and surrounding areas with regard to making sure that we can combat crime in a far better way.

I urge the government to have a close look at what can be done about relocating the court facilities in Murray Bridge as soon as possible, because that will obviously assist the process. I was pleased to be given the opportunity to present to the Public Works Committee.

Motion carried.

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