The Premier today announced a new Police Academy for Townsville, as she revealed artist impressions of the new state-of-the-art Queensland police precinct.
The Academy will join the previously announced $30 million police facility - due to replace the Kirwan Police Station- with preliminary works on the facility already underway at the site of the former 1300 Smiles football stadium.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland was in the midst of the biggest investment in policing in Queensland in more than three decades.
"The Townsville Police Academy will continue to play a significant role in the development of the next generation of police officers," the Premier said.
"Recently we saw one of the biggest ever in-take of recruits to the Townsville Academy to undergo their comprehensive six-month training course.
"61 new recruits from all walks of life, aged 18 to 53 signed up to the academy, where they'll undergo rigorous training with an acute emphasis on domestic and family violence.
"They will engage in cultural training, co-facilitated by external practitioners and people with lived experience. The course will focus on trauma-informed and victim-centric policing responses.
"We are going to be training even more recruits like this into the future, and a new state-of-the-art training facility at the new Kirwan police precinct would be a significant drawcard for recruits to North Queensland.
"While it will also provide the Queensland Police Service with greatly enhanced operational training capability."
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the significant investment cemented the QPS' commitment to delivering world-class policing services into the future.
"A brand new police academy will help us usher in a new chapter of modernisation of training for our recruits and officers in North Queensland," Commissioner Carroll said.
"We are embarking on the largest ever police recruit campaign and we know having state-of-the-art training facilities right here in Townsville will be a great incentive for would-be recruits. "The multi-purpose police complex at Kirwan will not only provide services for the local community but will become a policing hub, boosting our capability across the region."
Acting Police Minister Mark Furner said the design work will ensure the new facilities at the old football stadium site will be first class.
"I'm very much looking forward to seeing the outcome of this exciting venture for the QPS and the community," Minister Furner said.
"The existing Police Academy in Townsville has done a great job of preparing new recruits for more than 25 years.
"We have excellent, modern training facilities for police in Brisbane, and now is the time for north Queensland to be equipped with similar cutting-edge training capabilities.
"We are making the biggest investment in police personnel in more than three decades and it is only fitting we provide police with the best possible training facilities."
Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said today's announcement is a win for North Queensland, and will ensure community safety remains at the forefront for years to come.
"Today is a great day for Townsville, as we welcome the announcement of this new police academy.
"Not only will this see more of our best and brightest progress thorough a state-of the art training facility right here in Townsville, but I expect the construction process will lead to more good jobs for North Queenslanders.
"I have always said that this facility will be something special, and the release of these comprehensive plans prove that.
"I thank the QPS, and the Palaszczuk Government, for paying homage to North Queensland's footy legacy, by ensuring the new complex's design honours the former stadium."
Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said the Palaszczuk Government was continuing to back the Queensland Police Service.
"We know the important job our police do each and every day serving our community and that's why we always back them with good facilities and equipment," Mr Stewart said.
"It's exciting to see the plans for this state-of-the-art facility, which will be great for our police graduates."
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers welcomed the announcemt.
"The QPU welcomes today's announcement as a new Police Academy in Townsville is sorely needed and is a tangible example of this Government's commitment to police in regional Queensland," Mr Leavers said.
"I also thank and acknowledge the Premier and Police Minister's commitment to work with the me to focus on increasing police numbers and address police recruiting in Queensland through a whole suite of innovative and nation leading measures that we are working on."
