NSW: State Govt unveils plans for new Cabramatta police station

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NSW: State Govt unveils plans for new Cabramatta police station

SYDNEY, April 13 AAP - A new multi-million dollar western Sydney police headquarterswould be built in the heart of crime hotspot Cabramatta, the NSW Government announcedtoday.

Premier Bob Carr announced the new development with Cabramatta MP Reba Meagher outsidethe major drug centre's existing police station.

Mr Carr said the new police station, to be built at a cost of nearly $12.8 million,would become a state-of-the-art base for Cabramatta Local Area Command (LAC) as well aswestern Sydney's headquarters for the Serious Crime Task Force.

"It's going to be a big centre for up-front, visible police activity," Mr Carr told reporters.

"I think it's going to complement the excellent results we've had in the last six monthsas police have got on top of crime in Cabramatta."

Mr Carr said the figures he quoted in parliament earlier in the week spoke for themselves.

"I've just been in there to congratulate police on closing down 75 drug houses, usingthe new powers we gave the police to charge in and close down a drug house," he said.

Over 50 people from those drug houses had been arrested and theft from motor vehiclesin the area was down 25 per cent, he said.

The premier said construction tenders would open by mid-year, with the contract tobe awarded by September.

Fairfield Council approved the development application for the new facility last monthand the government had fast-tracked the pre-construction process, he said.

Ms Meagher said the development was expected to be completed by September 2003.

The new station will become the base for 124 police, plus administration staff, currentlyemployed in the Cabramatta LAC.

A minimum of 35 police investigators will also work in the new headquarters, alongsidethree field-based uniformed intelligence officers attached to the Intelligence and InformationCommand.

The building would also become the new home for four police ethnic liaison officers,up to six Department of Community Services (DOCS) officers and additional occupationalsafety and health officers.

The new station is to be located on Cabramatta Road West, one block from John Street.

AAP as/las/de

KEYWORD: CABRAMATTA STATION