Relates to this land sale announcement 10 months ago: http://www.sensational-adelaide.com/for ... =15#p59885
Construction of a brand new state-of-the-art Police Academy at Fort Largs will begin next week.Police Minister, Michael Wright, today announced that Badge Constructions is the successful developer for the $59 million project.
“This new training base will ensure the State’s future police officers have the very best training facilities as they embark on their law enforcement careers and is a part of the largest ever police building construction program in South Australia’s history.
Minister Wright said the commencement of construction of the new academy comes just a week after the construction of the new $100 million police headquarters commenced.
“We’re committed to providing the best facilities for our dedicated police. The current academy is now 40 years old, so a complete overhaul of the of the premises is necessary to cater for SAPOL’s ever expanding training requirements."
“The Government has recruited record numbers of police, more than 600 since coming to office, and it is our duty to ensure that our recruits have a modern and technologically advanced training facility,” he said.
“A key feature of the new academy will be a scenario village containing replica buildings, such as a hotel bar, pharmacy, bank, suburban house and police station/watch house.
The village will enable realistic replication of operational situations for cadets and serving police officers, such as with dealing domestic disputes, bank robberies, major crimes and so forth.
“The scenario village is an innovative concept that works well in overseas and interstate policing jurisdictions and will provide vital training for thousands of cadets as well as post graduates.
The new academy will also have a memorial garden to honour the lives of police officers who’ve died in the line of duty or lost their lives while serving overseas with Australia’s armed forces and United Nations peacekeeping contingents.
The new academy will include:
• 2 storey administration and teaching staff building for 136 staff
• 2-storey classroom training building comprising 20 classrooms, 9 syndicate and 4 video interview rooms
• 2 storey technology and resource centre incorporating IT training, library and resource facilities
• A single storey auditorium capable of seating 300 people
• A dining room capable of seating up to 180 people
• 2-storey accommodation block that will provide 20 motel style units
• A fitness and defensive tactics training building
• Obstacle course for recruit applicant testing and fitness and training
• A 4000m2 parade ground
• 287 car parks
Space has been allowed between building footprints for a 30 to 50% expansion in the future.
Construction is expected to be complete by September 2011.