Police Minister: New Baldivis police station will bridge gap in Mandurah district

A purpose-built police station in Baldivis will be operational as early as 2025, according to Baldivis MLA Reece Whitby and Police Minister Paul Papalia. Revealing the location of the new station on Wednesday, Mr Whitby said the 2021 election commitment has been some time in the making. “This is my major commitment from the last election,” he said. “It’s taken a while for police to find the right spot but I think it is a superb location.” The land is on the corner of Sherry St and the soon to be extended Settlers Ave — the “St Georges Terrace of Baldivis” according to Mr Whitby — with the station’s front to face Settlers Ave for increased community presence. It’s near major thoroughfares in Baldivis, with Nairn Drive giving access to the north and south, Safety Bay Road providing access to the east and west, as well as being nearby the Kwinana Freeway for calls that may be a little further away. “It’s ideally located for a quick response,” Mr Whitby said. “This is going to be a police station that could be here for 100 years or more so it’s important that you take time finding the right location because it’s got to serve the community for so long.” The building will have capacity for 100 full-time staff and incorporate a safe and contemporary custodial area, with dedicated spaces for alcohol testing, finger printing and evidence management. Designed with the environment in mind, it will also have extensive solar power capabilities, including battery storage and electric vehicle charging facilities, as well as native waterwise landscaping. Mr Papalia, who is also the member for nearby Warnbro, said Baldivis had experienced significant growth — meaning “land is at a premium”. The 2021 Census found the Baldivis population grew almost 20 per cent in the last five years and according to the City of Rockingham, it’s projected to grow by an additional 80 per cent by 2046. “To get the right block was very important, it took a little while but it’s going to be delivered — this is an election commitment being delivered, it’s great,” he said. The Police Minister said the station will also “fill the gap between the Rockingham and Mandurah subdistricts”. “(It) will not only cover and service the suburb of Baldivis, but it goes all the way west to the coast and will cover Port Kennedy, Secret Harbour, Golden Bay and Singleton, providing more direct and immediate police service to all of those suburbs,” he said. “Police have always provided response but what this does is assist in presence.” The announcement comes just days after shock news of Premier Mark McGowan’s resignation. Mr Whitby said the outgoing Premier had also played a vital role in securing the police station. “I advocated to (Mr McGowan) strongly at the last election, and his commitment was very important, too,” he said. “We both announced the commitment at the last election, so it’s really fitting that we’ve now settled on the right location and it’s going ahead.” Construction is set to begin in October, with practical completion expected by late 2024 and operations to begin in 2025.