The Police Commissioner has decided to fast-track the deployment of some of the extra police officers ultimately destined for the new police facility at Caloundra South.
These extra police officers will be hosted at Caloundra Police Station and will later join other additional police officers at the new police facility at Caloundra South when it is constructed.
In addition, the Queensland Police Service has made good progress on identifying a site for construction of the new Caloundra South police facility with further due diligence work underway.
The Police Commissioner's intention is to deploy ten extra officers, five this financial year, and five next financial year.
Once the new police facility is built at Caloundra South, it is expected that at least 30 officers will be based there, in addition to the existing staffing at Caloundra Police Station which will remain at its current location.
This investment not only doubles the number of police facilities in the Caloundra area but also will nearly double the total number of police officers based in this community over time.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said these investments are part of a watershed investment in policing across Queensland that will see the delivery of an extra 2,025 police personnel and a $300 million capital works program.
"The investment builds on a number of new and soon to be constructed facilities on the Sunshine Coast, that includes new facilities at Mooloolaba and Coolum, construction of the new facility at Nambour that is currently underway, the future construction of a new Cooroy police station and the deployment of Mobile Police Beats to the Sunshine Coast," Minister Ryan said.
"These investments in the region reflect the fact that it is a growing region."
Caloundra MP Jason Hunt welcomed the commitments and said the government's overwhelming priority was community safety.
"The Palaszczuk Government has consistently demonstrated its commitment to keeping the community safe, never more so than during the pandemic.
"And these investments in policing in the Caloundra area demonstrate yet again that commitment to local communities."
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said five extra police officers would be deployed to Caloundra this financial year and a further five officers would be deployed to Caloundra the following financial year.
"We know the Sunshine Coast and in particular, the Caloundra area continues to see rapid growth in population and infrastructure," Commissioner Carroll said.
"The deployment of additional officers to Caloundra will ensure the QPS is building capability in the area for the future while meeting the needs of the growing community."
