A joint police and courthouse complex in Armadale may be open for operation by the end of 2021 pending a suitable tender applicant coming forward to bring the project to fruition.
The $85 million project will see the site of a primary school transformed into a state-of-the-art building to house local police units and court staff.
Police Minister Michelle Roberts said development approvals had just gone through and a tender will go out next month with the hope of site works starting before the end of this year.
“The new building will mean people will be able to go straight from police lock up into the court to be processed,” she said.
“It will be better security both for police and the courts staff and will provide much better facilities for witnesses, which is a really important part of the justice system.”
Ms Roberts confirmed the former St Francis Xavier Church located some 20 metres away from the proposed complex will remain but will need a lot of work before it is fit for purpose.
“We have pencilled in up to $600,000 for the repairs,” she said.
“To make it fit for purpose it will require a community purpose and additional funds but we are very keen to talk to local government and any not-for-profit groups within the Armadale community about potential uses for the church.”
Once repaired the church building will be boarded up and preserved until a community purpose can be found. Member for Armadale Tony Buti said both the current courthouse and police building are way overdue for a new facility.
“To have both these buildings together makes sense,” he said.
