NEW POLICE STATION FOR HIGHFIELDS

New police station progresses for booming suburb

A NEW police station in one of the state’s fastest growing areas will help address a potential increase in crime and illegal activity in line with an increasing population.

Highfields is set to receive a state-of-the-art policing facility which will replace the existing police beat.

The new station on Highfields Rd will boost the suburb’s frontline services as part of the government’s future planning for the area.

Labor’s Toowoomba North candidate and former MP Kerry Shine said the first stage of construction was tipped for next financial year, and the new station was in response to concerns from Highfields residents.

“There is a concern that the police officers there at the police beat are at their capacity,” Mr Shine said.

Highfields is on track to become the fourth largest suburb in the Toowoomba region by 2021 with more than 14,200 residents.

Figures published by the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office predict the population will continue to rise in line with the wider Toowoomba region’s growth, with Darling Heights, Toowoomba West and Toowoomba Central areas outperforming the rise.

“People are concerned that with that type of population expansion, traffic accidents, let alone crime will, if it’s not already, be increasing,” Mr Shine said.

“It’s just wise to make that provision.”

The new station will be modelled on the $8.3 million Kingaroy station built in the past 12 months, with a focus put on local companies and designers for the project.

The station will likely include purpose-built work stations, dedicated interview room with video and audio recording capabilities, training room, as well as an evidence and major incident control room.

Mr Shine was unable to confirm how much would be allocated for the facility, the timeframe, or the number of additional police officers to be based at the station.

“It’s not set in concrete because what the (minister) is keen to see is local procurement so that will mean local designers and local architects will have input that in turn may mean the price will vary,” he said. “That was wise to do that. “The police station will be the hub of any emergency natural and bush fires - and anything could happen in the future so you would want to make sure the police station is one of the safest places for people to come.”

Mr Shine played a key role in securing funding and approvals for the upgraded Darling Downs Police District headquarters on Neil St, and the Toowoomba Police station on Hume St.

“I’m very pleased that police have been looked after in terms of providing modern and adequate facilities,” he said.

“It goes without saying that we need that.”

The Highfields station will likely support towns on the city’s northern fringes and boost response times.