A multi million-dollar project to deliver a new police station at Bridgewater is complete, with the station fully operational and the base for a new era of policing in southern Tasmania.
Tasmania Police Southern District Commander Jason Elmer said the $12.5m station expanded policing capability – providing increased capacity for officers, conference facilities, an incident management centre, a vulnerable witness interview room, and enhanced office and staff amenities.
"The vulnerable witness room is part of Tasmania Police's commitment to creating trauma-informed spaces for victim-survivors. These rooms feature calming décor, soft furnishings, and comfort items to help put individuals at ease, along with advanced recording systems that reduce the need for repeat interviews, minimising the risk of re-traumatisation," Commander Elmer said.
"The major incident room enhances the station's capacity to co-ordinate emergency responses, such as during bushfires or floods, by providing a dedicated space for timely decision-making, information sharing, and the distribution of community warnings."
The Bridgewater station operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The new station will accommodate around 44 constables; six sergeants, one divisional sergeant; one divisional inspector; one detective sergeant; and six detective constables.
Tasmania Police Inspector Bridgewater Division Luke Horne, pictured, said the new station, at more than double the size of the previous station, was built with current and future policing needs in mind.
"This new Bridgewater station is a significant boost for policing in southern Tasmania. It is fit-for-purpose and will enable Tasmania Police to further deliver on our core goal of providing public safety in the community now, and into the future," Inspector Horne said.
"The Bridgewater Division is one of the largest Tasmania Police divisions, servicing the four municipalities of Brighton, Derwent Valley, Central Highlands and Southern Midlands.
"The Brighton and Derwent Valley regions have experienced significant population growth in the recent past, adding to the need for expanded resources and improved facilities. With our new, purpose-built station here in Bridgewater as home base, we are confident we can continue to meet anticipated growth in policing requirements in the Division."
Prior to the recent completion of the new Bridgewater Police Station, officers from Bridgewater division worked out of Glenorchy Police Station for 12 months.
The new Bridgewater Police Station was designed by Tasmanian architectural firm Philp Lighton Architects, with construction company Fairbrother as the principal builder.
