A new $3.6 million police station at Morisset has been formally opened today by NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Justice and Police, Troy Grant, NSW Police say.
NSW Police Force Acting Deputy Commissioner Frank Mennilli, and Lake Macquarie Local Area Commander Superintendant Brett Greentree, joined the Deputy Premier in a formal ceremony at the new facility this morning.
Construction of the new station began in January 2015 and it has been fully operational since May of this year. It’s the first major modular constructed station, being built off-site and later transported to Morisset for installation.
The new station accommodates General Duties Police with meal rooms, meeting facilities with Audio Visual Link (AVL) capabilities to enable a live broadcast, and an area to conduct interviews.
It also has improved canine facilities for the Dog Unit’s ongoing training and operations. Six specialist officers from the unit are based at she station full-time.
In addition, a large new contingent of Police Transport Command officers is now based at the station, who will be supported by an Inspector overseeing the sector as well as two supervising officers.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Mennilli said the new station represents an important step forward for Lake Macquarie Local Area Command in their overall police response to tackling crime.
"Morisset Police Station is the second of three new facilities being developed within the command, with Toronto also currently undergoing construction and expected to open next year," Acting Deputy Commissioner Mennilli said.
"The larger station in Morisset with improved capabilities ensures our officers are best equipped with the right resources to maintain the safety and security of the local community.
"The new meeting facility for instance allows Lake Macquarie Local Area Command to utilise the station for larger scale operational briefings with internal stakeholders and external agencies, improving their customer service interface," Acting Deputy Commissioner Mennilli said.
"Residents should be pleased with their station and can be reassured the committed policing staff members will continue to work hard to keep their community safe."
Minister Grant said he was thrilled to return to the region to mark another milestone for the Government, the NSW Police Force and especially the community.
"The Lake Macquarie Local Area Command has undergone an era of redevelopment with the NSW Government’s $29 million investment to rebuild stations at Morisset, Belmont and Toronto," Mr Grant said.
"This Government is proud to provide frontline officers with the best resources to do their jobs and serve the community."
Supt Greentree welcomed the new facilities that will strengthen the Local Area Command’s crime fighting capabilities.
"I’m proud to host the official opening of our new police station, which is home to almost 40 police officers at the Lake Macquarie Local Area Command," Supt Greentree said.
"Our new station advances our policing capabilities and brings specialist resources from the Dog Unit and Police Transport Command under the same roof enabling them to work together to meet the needs of thec ommunity.
"When the third station is completed in the coming months within Lake Macquarie Local Area Command, the ongoing building program will have created some of the best policing facilities in NSW to benefit the local community."
