The new $19.8 million Riverstone Police Station is expected to open by mid-December, Quakers Hill crime manager Detective Inspector Brett Guyatt said today.
He was joined by Police and Emergency Services Minister Stuart Ayres and Riverstone MP Kevin Conolly at the turning of the first sod on the future two-storey building police station which, when completed, will replace Quakers Hill as the local area command.
During this afternoon's site inspection, Mr Ayres confirmed $9.7 million had been allocated this financial year to progress the works at 18 Railway Terrace, Riverstone.
Under this government, the NSW Police Force is at a record high, he said, with an authorised strength of 16,485.
Seven new police positions have been added to the Quakers Hill Local Area Command during this time.
‘‘Right from the very early days that I became the Minister for Police, the Riverstone Police Station got shunted to the top of the list,’’ Mr Ayres said.
‘‘You’re going to see a fantastic police station here that I’m sure will be the flagship for a strong community that’s going to grow.’’
The station will cater for more than 130 police personnel including general duties, highway patrol, a crime management unit, proactive team and detectives.
It is expected to operate 24 hours a day and have the capacity for 63 major shift personnel.
Before its closure in May 2014, the existing station — an internally intact Federation Queen Anne building built in 1891 on the same parcel of land — was a shopfront, manned by one officer.
Riverstone MP Kevin Conolly said ‘‘the money for this police station was allocated some time ago and we have had some hiccups but it is a great delight to see the work about to commence’’.
