New Townsville Police Academy to proceed as funding locked in for Stage 2 of major community safety precinct

• $100 million funding locked in for new Townsville Police Academy
• New Academy to be co-located with new Kirwan police station, a new Townsville PoliceLink, as well as a number of specialist QPS functions
• The Townsville Police Academy is one of three Queensland campuses complementing the Brisbane campuses in Oxley and Wacol

Construction of a new Townsville Police Academy is locked in with funding of $100 million now allocated.

The new academy will be constructed at the new community safety precinct currently underway at the site of the old 1300 Smiles Rugby League stadium.

The new academy will be co-located with the new Kirwan police station, a new Townsville PoliceLink, as well as a number of specialist QPS functions.

The Townsville Police Academy is one of three campuses across Queensland, complementing the Brisbane campuses at Oxley and Wacol.

The primary purpose of each campus is to provide the infrastructure required for the provision of education and training to recruits and the continuous improvement of skills for all members of the QPS. 

The current Townsville Police Academy is located in Belgian Gardens.

While it has produced many fine Queensland police officers, it’s clear that bigger and better recruit training infrastructure is needed for the future.

The new Academy will deliver infrastructure that includes purpose-built and flexible training facilities that provide for specialist scenario-based training for police to better protect vulnerable victims.

It’s anticipated that the construction program will be progressed over a four year period.

Quotes attributable to Premier Steven Miles:

“The new Townsville police academy is an important part of our community safety plan.

“We will need to train hundreds more police and we want to train them in Townsville.

“It’s the right time, especially with the Queensland Police Service in the midst of its biggest ever recruitment campaign.

“My government will always back police with the infrastructure, the resources and the personnel they need to keep the community safe.”

Quotes attributable to Police Minister Mark Ryan:

“The Queensland Police Service is world-class and deserves world-class facilities.

“Given the demands of modern policing, new recruits need the best available training experiences.

“And to provide that professional level of training to recruits, police need the appropriate infrastructure.

“I am proud the Miles Government is making this investment in the future of police.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Resources and Critical Minerals and Member for Townsville Scott Stewart:

“Having this start of the art facility in Townsville means we can train our newest police locally and they gain a perspective on the city and the regions.

“We want our latest police recruits to learn the skills they need right here in Townsville so they can be the best they can be and help protect our community.

“It’s the Miles Government that’s taking real action to ensure our police have the best infrastructure like this along with the personnel they need to keep our community safe.”

Quotes Attributable to Aaron Harper MP:

“I’ve been a long-term advocate of this project getting built at the former home of the North Queensland Cowboys, this funding is the next step in seeing this project delivered.

“I’m proud to be part of the Miles government delivering new funding to give QPS the tools and facilities they need to do their jobs.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Mundingburra Les Walker:

“I thank the Premier and Police Minister for this much needed investment to boost our frontline police capabilities.

“One of the first decisions Steven Miles made when he became Premier was delivering a new Polair helicopter for Townsville. This has helped immensely.

“Now, the Miles Government is taking more action to ensure that Townsville will be home to the best training facilities ensuring that our next generation of police recruits can be the best they can be.”

Quotes attributable to Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski:

“This is an important project for the Queensland Police and the local community in Townsville.
“It will provide state-of-the-art training facilities and equipment for our officers and recruits as well as enhancing our policing footprint in Kirwan.

“The facility will help us future-proof policing in North Queensland.”

ENDS