CLP criticises new Nightcliff Police Station operating at half planned capacity

The Opposition Leader has criticises the construction of the Nightcliff Police Station, describing it as blatant “pork barrelling”.

OPPOSITION leader Lia Finocchiaro says blatant pork-barrelling drove the Labor Government to construct a police station in Nightcliff, it was then not prepared to adequately staff or resource.

Ms Finocchiaro said the interests of police were valued far behind the interests of the government in deciding to build the new police station at the old John Stokes Square public housing estate.

On Monday, the NT News revealed the station has only 35 staff instead of the 70 anticipated at opening, has no general duties officers and, contrary to the 2016 election promise, is not 24-hour and only opens to the public during business hours.

“Despite Labor’s ridiculous spin on this project, the Nightcliff Police station is a broken election promise from back in 2016 that has taken more than five years to build,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

“The Gunner Labor Government promised a 24/7 front counter, which this station doesn’t have, because our police are under resourced.

“Despite its $11m price tag, the Nightcliff station doesn’t even have holding cells or a watch house.

“It’s nothing more than glorified office space with an oversized ‘police station’ sign out the front – and less than 5km drive from the fully functional Casuarina Police Station.

“Now we’ve learned only 35 officers will be using this station; school-based Auxiliaries who should be based in schools, and the youth diversion team. No General Duties. No police vans.

“The reality is, Minister Fyles is blatantly pork barrelling without giving a second thought to the police officers stationed in regional & remote parts of the Territory who are being forced to work out of 50 year-old asbestos-riddled buildings – or demountables – because the Gunner Labor Government would rather spend $11m in Darwin.” Police Minister Nicole Manison said the government had honoured its 2016 election commitment to build the Nightcliff station.

STATION OPERATING AT HALF PLANNED CAPACITY

NIGHTCLIFF’S new police station is operating at half its planned capacity almost a month after its official ­opening.

General duties officers have not been based there and only two small teams, Youth Diversion and school-based constables, are currently working out of the new building.

Police Minister Nicole Manison confirmed last week 35 officers were “using” the station but provided no details about how many staff were ­actually based at and working from the new centre.

Construction documents obtained by the NT News show Nightcliff’s new station has an operational capacity of 100 staff and there was originally planned to be 70 people there from the opening. The station was meant to be open 24 hours although counter staff only work business hours.

General duties officers remain based at Casuarina police station, about 10 minutes drive away, and there is no provision for staffing and running costs at Nightcliff in the 2021-22 budget. Ms Manison said budgeting was an operational matter and was from existing funding. NT Police Association president Paul McCue said there were challenges to achieving staffing targets.

“Nightcliff Police Station is a well-designed, fit for purpose station which will serve the NT Police well in the future, but the NTPA is unaware what the plan is for the station in the short term regarding additional resources,” he said.

“With the nearly 200 NT Police members currently deployed on Covid-19 related ­duties – approximately 15 per cent of the workforce – it is unlikely Nightcliff Police Station will be at full capacity any time soon.” With the regular Emergency Command Centre being used for the Covid response, a space at Nightcliff station is currently being used to direct severe weather operations.

Ms Manison said the government had honoured its 2016 election commitment to build the Nightcliff station.

“The Territory Labor Government promised to build a new modern police station in Nightcliff to boost capabilities across the Darwin region – this was an election commitment and we have delivered on it,” she said.

“Around 35 officers are using the station. The station will provide improved proximity and visibility to assist police in keeping the community safe and help reduce anti-social ­behaviour in the area.

“We are ensuring our hard working police have the best facilities and resources to do their important work.

“Nightcliff Police Station is staffed by our Youth Engagement and Youth Diversion teams, school-based policing, has operational front counter during business hours Monday to Friday and has operational police accessing and using the facility 24 hours as required.”

Originally published as CLP criticises new Nightcliff Police Station operating at half planned capacity