The planning and design of the new North Shore Policing Centre have taken four years with part of that being an extensive site search. One of the key considerations was deciding from which location Police could best serve the community.
A study of demographic changes on the North Shore identified that the major population growth is occurring north of Takapuna and planning had to take this into account.
The Centre will front on to Parkway Drive giving good access to Constellation Drive and the motorway network as well the planned bus interchange next to the facility. All traffic will use Parkway Drive, except for an emergency exit on to Sunset Road.
Area Commander, Inspector Mike Hill, has been involved in planning from the very beginning to ensure the facility would accommodate the needs of Police and the public for at least the next twenty years.
Inspector Hill says, "Right from the initial design stages the aim for this building has been for a facility that assists staff and so better serves the community. The design of the building allows Police to work in a way that was not possible before and so has led to a new approach to policing on the North Shore. We intend to build on this success, says Inspector Hill."
The building will be almost 7000 square metres in size on four levels. Construction is expected to start in December of this year with Police taking a twenty year lease on the building. The facility is designed by Beca, Carter, Hollings and Ferner with the land and building owned by Bungalo Holdings. Occupation is expected in March 2006.
The Centre will provide
• 24 hour service with a spacious reception and public counter
• facilities for approximately 200 staff
• new concepts in the care and custody of offenders
• a centralised managed facility for all interviews
• state of the art security and a major operations room
• a facility to enable police and the community to work together
• facilities for other agencies such as truancy, victim support and other partners
"Providing a safe and efficient workplace for the public and police is the main reason for building this facility," says Inspector Hill. The building will have facilities including a centralised interview suite and my staff are looking forward to working in a building designed for North Shore City and the people it serves," says Inspector Hill.
The North Shore Policing Centre will mean police doing things differently in the community. While some services will be relocated, facilities will remain at Takapuna, Glenfield and Browns Bay along with community based services at Albany, Devonport, Sunnynook, Northcote, Birkenhead, Beachhaven and Greenhithe.
The current Takapuna station will become more focused on providing a service to the local residents and businesses rather than serving the entire area. Takapuna was never designed as a base for the entire North Shore and facilities have been placed where ever space is available.
The Centre will also provide support for the wider North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney Police District and provide a base for a number of services including CIB, Youth Aid and Prosecutions. The District Headquarters for North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney will also remain in Takapuna
District Commander, Superintendent Roger Carson says, "This facility will be a valuable asset to not only the North Shore but also the wider District with good access to the motorway network for responding to Waitakere and Rodney. North Shore Police has a proud record of reducing crime and road trauma. The new policing centre presents a wonderful opportunity to work even closer with the community from a 21st century, well equipped building, says Superintendent Carson."
Watch construction and progress and get updates by visiting the Police website: www.police.govt.nz and click on North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney Police District page
Issued by
Jayson Rhodes
Communications Manager
North Shore/Waitakere/Rodney Police
4889 758 / 027 281 0271