Construction to commence soon on Stage 1 of major community safety project in Townsville

• Stage 1 of the new Kirwan Police Complex will be home to Kirwan police station, multiple specialist QPS teams and the new Policelink call centre.
• Construction on Stage 1 of the state-of-the-art complex is expected to commence within months.
• Stage 2 of the Kirwan Police Complex will include the relocation of the North Queensland Police Academy and the Townsville Dog Squad.

Construction on Stage 1 of the new state-of-the-art Kirwan Police Complex will commence within months, with completion expected in 2025. 

Stage 1 of the project includes the relocation of the current Kirwan police station and co-locating important specialised Queensland Police Service (QPS) teams within a modern purpose-built facility.  

The Townsville Domestic and Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Unit, High Risk Team, Youth Co-Responder Team, Tactical Crime Squad, Rapid Action and Patrol Group, Stronger Communities Early Action Group and the new Townsville PoliceLink Call Centre will be located at the police complex. 

Stage 2 of the Kirwan Police Complex will include the relocation of the North Queensland Police Academy and the Townsville Dog Squad.

The new Academy at Kirwan will continue to play a significant role in recruiting and training the next generation of police officers and enhancing the operational training capability of the current workforce.

The new Academy will include a purpose-built education and training facility, with multiple classrooms for recruits and QPS staff, specialised operational and scenario-based training facilities and physical training and testing spaces.

The Kirwan Police Complex will future proof QPS’s accommodation requirements for the years to come.

The existing Kirwan Police Station, built in 1984, is the second largest station within the Townsville District and represents a divisional population of approximately 60,000 people. 

Quotes attributable to Minister Mark Ryan:

“The Miles Government’s priority is always community safety.

“We have world class police officers here in Queensland, and we are committed to upgrading police facilities and streamlining processes to ensure that our police are every day fighting crime and keeping the community safe.

“The new Police Complex at Kirwan will truly be a purpose-built, state-of-the-art, multi-use police facility.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Commissioner, Chris Hodgman: 

“I am incredibly excited by the opportunities the new Kirwan Police Complex will offer the QPS, its officers, and the wider Townsville community.  

“We appreciate this strong investment into assisting police tackle youth crime, strengthen our police recruitment pipeline and ensure our police academies are world class.”  

Quotes attributable to Queensland Police Union Vice President Shane Prior:  

“The QPU identified the Townsville Academy and Kirwan Police Station would benefit from the development of a combined, modern, fit for purpose police facility and again Police Minister Mark Ryan accepted our advice aware this would provide generational support for frontline police.

“The new Academy will have facilities that will be the envy of other police jurisdictions and with quality instructors already available their ability combined with fit for purpose training resources will ensure every graduate will be proficient and competent.

“Police at Kirwan are some of the hardest working in the State and they should always have a modern, secure work environment with appropriate amenities. Frontline police will have input into the fit out and design guaranteeing efficiencies with workflow. I’m pleased our first responders will be some of the first to benefit from Stage 1 of the project.”      

Quotes attributable to Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper:

“I fought hard to have this project built at the former home of the North Queensland Cowboys, so it’s exciting to see that construction is about to commence on this major project for community safety in Townsville. 

“The Miles Government will always back the QPS with the resources they need to help keep our community safe.” 

Quotes attributable to Townsville MP Scott Stewart:

“The QPS do an amazing job for our city and this new state-of-the-art facility will ensure we can train new officers here in North Queensland. 

“Backing our police with more officers, more facilities and more tools means community safety will continue to be a top priority.” 

Quotes attributable to Mundingburra MP Les Walker: 

“I’m proud to be part of a Miles Government that continues to back the QPS. 

“This investment will mean better policing services for Townsville, along with local construction jobs for Townsville workers.” 

Further Information:

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Media Contacts

Minister Ryan’s Office: (07) 3035 8300

Police Media: (07) 3015 2444