Police complex ahead of schedule

Construction of the new Victoria Police complex in Docklands is ahead of schedule and the $230 million development is now past the halfway point.

Project manager Andrew Ward told Docklands News that construction of the 12-storey building was now complete and fit-out of Victoria Police’s tenancy on the lower floors of the building had started.

Baulderstone began construction on the building, at the corner of LaTrobe and Spencer streets, in March last year and it is scheduled for completion by March 2015.

The building will become the new base for Crime Command, which is currently split between St Kilda Rd and Flinders St, Intelligence an d Covert Support Command, Melbourne West Police Station and North West Metropolitan Region Headquarters.

Around 1500 Victoria Police staff will move into the building progressively between April and June next year, with a range of commissioning, training and induction activities planned for the moving-in process.

The new facility is the first purpose-built police property in the CBD since the Russell St police headquarters were built in 1943.

According to Mr Ward, the new police complex will improve community presence and accessibility and will improve public interaction with police via a public plaza and café.

At the same time, the new complex will centralise major crime and intelligence functions of Victoria Police, allowing ease of interaction and sharing of information between units.

Mr Ward said the complex would also allow the Melbourne West Police Station to support the community more effectively through patrol and response strategies that concentrate on police services to the city of Melbourne.

“We’re quite lucky to secure this site because it’s on the cusp of both the city and Docklands,” Mr Ward said.

The 27,000 sqm building at 313 Spencer St has already acquired sustainability credentials, earning a 5 star NABERS for the base building and 4.5 star NABERS water rating.