Counter terrorism training facility at Wacol gets Queensland Government approval

A STATE-of-the-art counter terrorism training facility in one of Brisbane’s outer suburbs has been given the final tick of approval by the State Government as part of a $46.7 million development.

Queensland SERT and riot squad members during a press conference about the proposed counter terrorism training facility. Picture: Tim Marsden

A STATE-of-the-art counter terrorism training facility in Brisbane’s outer suburbs has been given the final tick of approval by the State Government.

Construction on the $46.7 million Westgate Complex in Wacol will begin shortly where specialist police will be able to train with virtual reality situations in specially made buildings.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the facility – which will be completed by 2020 – will feature real life “scenario villages” which specialist police will be able to train based off responses to attacks throughout the world.

Police Minister Mark Ryan.

Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Tracy Linford said while there has been other complexes built throughout Australia and the world, Queensland’s will lead the way in counter terrorism training.

“This sort of venue that is going to built here in the scenario villages and some of the other facilities that are going to be built for specialist training are going to allow our police to respond in an appropriate manner for any future event we may see, whether it be counter terrorism or some other critical incident,” she said.

Assistant Commissioner Tracy Linford. Picture: Jono Searle

“Over the last four years we have seen the environment change right across the world and so we have learnt from all the different terrorist attacks that have occurred throughout the world.

“The firearms venues that we will be facilitating here will be indoors which means we will be able to train our members day and night which until now we have been relatively restricted.”

Acting State Development Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the State Government had approved GHD as the principle consultants for the construction and PDT Architects for the work on heritage listed buildings