A new $7.5 million police station has opened at St Helens, giving Tasmania Police modern facilities to better support east coast communities.
The Annie Street station replaces the ageing 1975 building, delivering upgraded design, technology and security for frontline operations.
Police Commissioner Donna Adams and senior officers inspected the completed station on Wednesday, marking the end of a 12-month construction project.
Northern District Commander Marco Ghedini said the station would significantly boost policing capacity in the region.
“This new station provides increased capacity for our routine policing duties and provides space for any expanded staffing that may be needed for short-term operations or emergency management,” he said.
The facility includes dedicated victim and witness interview rooms, suspect interview spaces, and drug and alcohol testing areas. Purpose-built storage for marine police vessels and equipment is also included.
A key feature is the modern holding cell, allowing offenders to be detained on-site rather than transported immediately to Launceston.
“This will provide a timelier capacity to investigate matters within the area,” Ghedini said.
The station will house general duties officers serving St Helens, Beaumaris, Scamander and areas north to Ansons Bay and inland to Weldborough.
It also serves as divisional headquarters for the broader St Helens Division, covering the east coast south to Dennison River, the Fingal Valley and Furneaux Islands.
The facility includes meeting rooms and video conferencing capabilities for training and remote court appearances.
The former Cecilia Street station will be decommissioned and sold through the Department of Treasury and Finance once staff have relocated.
