The Woods Bagot-designed Victoria Police Centre in Melbourne has been given the green light by the Victorian government.
The 39-storey high security tower is a market-led proposal put forward by Australia Post and Cbus Property for a site adjacent to the existing City West Police Complex at 313 Spencer Street, also designed by Woods Bagot and completed in 2015. The new building will be located next door at 311 Spencer Street.
Market-led proposals are proposals from the private sector to enter into an arrangement with the government to deliver services and infrastructure. The culmination of the fifth and final stage of the assessment process sees the contract awarded to the proponents.
The site will provide Victoria Police with a connection to the City West Police Complex (CWPC) at 313 Spencer St. The proposed development creates a unique opportunity for Victoria Police to co-locate and consolidate their Melbourne CBD operations into one stand-alone precinct.
The features of the site combined with landscaping, urban design interventions, built form initiatives and invisible technologies will provide Victoria Police with a secure facility that remains integrated into the wider streetscape. The site is within close proximity to Southern Cross Station and provides excellent access and egress to arterial road networks.
The proposal was deemed to have "met the required criteria and had potential to offer value for money, and unique security characteristics," said a statement.
The new building will be 39 storeys and includes a public foyer on the ground floor and an interpretation centre to exhibit police memorabilia and artefacts. It will house 2,500 police personnel.
The centre will include frontline police and investigators in transit and public safety, road policing, family violence, state emergencies and security, crime, counter terrorism and intelligence and covert support command. Neighbourhood Watch will be offered space at the centre.
The new headquarters would provide Victoria Police with alternative accommodation when their current lease at the World Trade Centre expires in 2020, and will support the Labor Government’s record $2 billion boost to police resourcing, which includes 3135 additional sworn-in police on top of attrition over five years.
