MP claims Caloundra watchhouse is a $4.4 million white elephant

IT HAS 10 living quarters and can sleep 30 people in relative comfort, yet the vacancy sign goes up every night at the Sunshine Coasts newest accommodation facility

IT HAS 10 living quarters and can sleep 30 people in relative comfort, yet the vacancy sign goes up every night at the Sunshine Coasts newest accommodation facility.

It might be because the Caloundra watchhouse, for all its state-of-the-art conveniences, isnt everyones idea of the perfect place to spend the night.

Caloundra MP Mark McArdle says its because the $4.4 million facility is a Beattie Government white elephant.

He claims its 10 cells hosted just 23 prisoners between its opening in August and the middle of February, with prisoners held more than 24 hours taken to the Maroochydore watchhouse.

That raised questions about whether the money used to build the facility could have been better used.

This place has better accommodation and more personal services than any motel on the Sunshine Coast Im surprised criminals arent queuing up to get in, Mr McArdle said.

Its an absolute joke and a testimony to the reckless spending the Labor Government is renowned for.

That amount of money could have made a significant difference to police or health services in Caloundra.

The watchhouse boasts a public reception area, storeroom, offices, two non-contact visiting rooms, a fingerprint area, electronic interview room and staff amenities.

Its not the usual fare offered by Coast accommodation but then neither is a holding cell, a bulk holding cell, an observation cell, a violent detainee cell and a search cell.

While Mr McArdle claims they are all going to waste, Qld Police Minister Judy Spence believes its a good thing the watchhouse isnt as booked out as other accommodation on the Coast.

And its opening had the bonus of six new officers appointed to staff it.

It is staffed to run five-days-a-week, however when the officers are not required to perform duties at the watchhouse they are providing frontline policing services to the Sunshine Coast community, Ms Spence said.

Sending prisoners requiring overnight stays to the 24-hour watchhouse at Maroochydore enabled Caloundra Watchhouse staff to be diverted to other duties and provided better use of police resources, she said.

Ms Spence said she had been advised Caloundra police were working through a number of design and construction issues such as a leaking roof but none related to the containment and security of prisoners.

Originally published as MP claims Caloundra watchhouse is a $4.4 million white elephant