AUGUSTA is set to get a new $1.7 million police station, finally retiring the historic building which started life as Margaret River police station almost a century ago.
The new modular building will be pre-fabricated in Perth and transported to Augusta, sitting alongside the old station in Hillview Rd.
Augusta police Officer-in-Charge Sergeant Rik Lok said the new station would provide prisoner holding facilities, enabling police to locally detain and process anyone taken into custody.
Currently prisoners must be transported to the nearest custodial facility at Margaret River police station.
“Luckily we don’t often have the need for holding facilities in Augusta, but it will certainly improve our capabilities when it opens some time in the middle of next year,” Sgt Lok said.
The existing weatherboard police station was originally built in Margaret River and later transported to Augusta where it was used for some years as a holiday home before being re-commissioned for police use.
.It once housed a police officer, with prisoners held across the hallway. The antiquated cells are currently used as storage.
Augusta has three police officers stationed in the town and there are no plans to expand that number.
Senior Constable Anthony Gillam said he would be sad to leave the old building,
“The building is likely to remain where it is in some other capacity,” he said. “If only it could talk, I'm sure there would be plenty of stories from over the years!”
The new facility will be built on an uncleared section of land adjacent to the current station, using the same entrance and car park.
