Police in line for new station

A GUARANTEED police facility could become the headquarters for Townsville’s first new policing division in almost 18 years.

Initially touted as a superbeat, the new facility in the Upper Ross could become a full blown police station.

The Bulletin understands police are still working out exactly how the facility will function but if it is established as a station with designated geographical boundaries, the Upper Ross will become the first new policing division in Townsville since 2001.

The Bulletin revealed police were set to buy a house in Bluewattle Boulevard, Rasmussen, in July and in November Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper confirmed the 10- man facility would open in early 2019.

The “super- beat” concept has been trialled in the Upper Ross for more than a year, combing the Kelso and Rasmussen police beats and combining those forces with additional officers.

However, the beat officers have so far operated inside the Kirwan Police Division.

Sources say new boundaries are being drawn that, if given the green light, would see a chunk of the Kirwan Police division become a new division to be policed by a station in the Upper Ross.

The last time a new police division was created for a station in Townsville was in 2001 when Deeragun Police Station opened.

Acting Chief Superintendent Steve Munro said operational matters regarding the new facility would be considered by police in time.

“It is still up for consideration whether it will be known as a police station but we are moving away from traditional single officer police beats, particularly in growing communities,” Chief Supt Munro said.

“The obtaining of a new facility is at this stage a place to house our officers closer to where it needs to be.”

Mr Harper has labelled the facility a “station” – which he said he had worked hard to deliver for the region.

“When they get an OIC ( officer- in- charge) appointed and staff put in it will be functional as a station,” Mr Harper said.

Multiple sources have said the 10 officers assigned to the new facility will not be enough to offer 24/ 7 service and should the Upper Ross become its own division it will need more staff or have to depend on assistance from other divisions.

A decision on the future of the Rasmussen facility is likely to be made in the New Year, with works still being undertaken at the site to bring the building in line with police needs.