O’Connor questions hub move

THE Palaszczuk Government is being accused of stalling on a new police facility to fight the crime wave on the northern end of the Gold Coast.

Police Minister Mark Ryan yesterday announced a policing hub at Arundel was on track to be completed on time with building work likely to start as early as May.

A builder is yet to be hired and ground works to start. Tender applications are expected to close next month with the contract to be awarded in several weeks.

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor has questioned the government’s commitment, given the project was announced as an important item in last year’s budget in July.

“The government bought the land here in December 2017 and put initial funding in last year’s budget almost nine months ago,” Mr O’Connor said.

“I was hoping today would be the sod-turning but unfortunately it’s just the opening of tenders for construction.

“Why does it take 15 months from buying the land and announcing the plan to call for tenders?

“This is an absolute joke and it shows the low priority Labor have for police resources on the Gold Coast.”

The government has to meet a December deadline for the new hub which should accommodate more than 90 officers, many from the Rapid Action Patrol group due to its Varsity Lakes office lease ending. Mr Ryan described work on the site as a “rapid build process”.

“The facility will be built, weather permitting, by December this year and police will be in this facility in January 2020,” he said. Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said the facility would work as a base for officers to collect their gear and hit the road, rather than working from the facility.