The state government of Queensland in Australia has released expressions of interest to appoint a principal consultant to oversee the second stage of the Kirwan Police Complex construction.
Procurement of a principal consultant for the A$100m ($65.5m) stage two, now in progress, is a critical juncture in the journey towards inaugurating the new police complex.
Stage one of the complex is currently being built and involves the transfer of the existing Kirwan Police Station and the integration of specialised Queensland Police Service (QPS) teams within the new facility.
Through the amalgamation of services, the government aims to cater to the evolving requirements of North Queensland's population.
For the second stage, the chosen consultant will collaborate with various QPS stakeholders to refine the design through 2025.
A Preliminary Design Report has also been finalised, outlining the transfer of the North Queensland Police Academy and the Townsville Dog Squad to the new location.
The second stage's development will include an education and training establishment, featuring numerous classrooms, scenario-based training areas, specialised operational, and spaces for physical training and assessment.
The construction of the first phase is advancing smoothly and is anticipated to be completed by mid-2025, as planned.
Once open, the new police precinct will bolster the capabilities of specialist units by housing them under one roof. It will also provide recruits with a distinctive training opportunity and access to operational police.
The QPS is dedicated to providing high-calibre training to the 2,000 candidates currently in the police recruitment process.
Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan said: “The Kirwan Police Complex is progressing in accordance with our planning and beginning the tender process for Stage Two means we can deliver this entire project as soon as possible.
“There is a lot of consultation with important stakeholders taking place, and that will continue to ensure we build the best possible complex to serve this growing community well into the future.
“The academy is a huge part of this project as we know the QPS recruit pipeline is strong, and we want to ensure they get the highest possible standard of training to serve our state.”