A new courthouse and police station is a step closer after the State Government confirmed yesterday it had purchased land for the Armadale justice complex in the Armadale CBD.
Not everyone is excited though with Member for Armadale Tony Buti criticising the announcement for its lack of timing details.
Deputy Premier and Police Minister Liza Harvey said the State Government purchased two adjacent blocks of land bound by Third Road and Thomas Street for $4.9 million.
“This government is committed to ensuring the south eastern suburbs community is kept safe and police in the area have the resources they need to help combat crime and antisocial behaviour,” she said.
Attorney General Michael Mischin said while the land purchase had been underway, the government had also committed $1.8 million for the planning of the complex building in the 2016-17 State Budget.
The old courthouse and police station have long been considered rundown and the council has been pleading with the State Government for years to build new facilities.
In the last four years $116 million has been allocated to build new and refurbished police stations across the state.
Dr Buti welcomed the news but said a new complex was still in the air with no money set aside in the forward estimates for the actual building.
“It is a shame that it has taken almost six years since we were promised a new police station and court house and now all we have is a vague announcement which lacks any substance,” he said.
“The only commitment that I can see in this announcement is funding for planning.
“What that means in Liberal Government speak is that they are in the process of purchasing some land, there are no real plans and if there is to be a new justice complex it could be another six to 10 years away or never.”
Dr Buti said the courthouse was bursting at the seams and it needed to be addressed immediately.
He also reconfirmed the state Labor Party’s commitment to make Armadale a 24-hour police station.
Armadale mayor Henry Zelones said he was pleasantly surprised to hear the ministers had jointly confirmed consolidation of the land for the new project.
“We’ve been aware of the due diligence being undertaken and have been awaiting this announcement for some time,” he said.
“This is fantastic news as the project has been top priority in a number of our presentations to the government. The relocation of the courthouse and a new police station are the foundation blocks for the Armadale city centre as the true regional centre of justice, governance and commerce for southeast metropolitan Perth,” he said.
Mr Zelones said the site was not the original site mooted by the city but was still within the city centre.
Since 2014, 104 more uniformed officers have moved into the Armadale sub-district for duties.
Police prosecutions in Armadale increased by 29 per cent in June 2016.
