Kumeu has a new purpose built, policing facility, and it will be formally opened by the Prime Minister and Member for Kumeu, Hon John Key MP, later this week, Friday 27 March 2009.
The original station was designed to accommodate two police officers but in recent years the numbers working out of the site at 6 Matua Road, Kumeu have far exceeded this.
Project planners adopted two viable options for the new station. A decision was made to [1] construct a prefabricated model to accommodate the increased staff numbers, and [2] to refurbish the existing building to include new ablutions and essential furnishings.
The entire project was completed on 20 February 2009 after just twelve weeks.
The nine police staff at Kumeu occupied the new station on 25 February 2009. The schedule of works has included preparation and leveling of the existing property, strengthening of pile foundations, new water tank storage, a garage and on site delivery. A feature of the designed complex is the short corridor which now links the old and new buildings. Built in Hastings the prefabricated construction took two days to be transported by road to Kumeu. It was then craned onto the site.
Rodney Area Commander Inspector Janet Hope says police have an ongoing programme of works updating small rural community stations.
"The Hastings based company Cottages New Zealand is commissioned to construct prefabricated designs for Police. The Kumeu project was bigger but the principal is the same. While the project was in the early phase of progress the staff relocated to a temporary home at Craig Walker Building Removals, near to the station. Both planning and transition all went smoothly," she said.
"The temporary nature of the construction will be of future benefit to police should there ever be a need to relocate to another site in the long term. The innovative complex has new ablutions and furnishings, plus a spacious kitchen and meal room. All the staff are satisfied with their new locale."
"The successful tender for the station refurbishment was the company, Henshaw Limited. Opus architects and the staff jointly consulted on the layout for the new Kumeu station."
"The general public, local residents and the wider community are seeing significant benefits in terms of the overall operational effectiveness this new facility is providing."
"I am delighted the Prime Minister and Member for Kumeu has agreed to officially open our new police station. We welcome the many dignitaries attending, among them, the Deputy Police Commissioner, Rob Pope, Assistant Police Commissioner for Auckland Metropolitan Region, Steve Shortland, District Commander Superintendent Bill Searle, local Mayors, Kaumatua, project construction staff, stakeholders, and others who live in our unique community," Inspector Hope said.
The official ceremony will commence at 2.00pm Friday 27 March 2009.
ENDS:
Kevin Loughlin
Communications Manager
Waitemata Police District Headquarters | Takapuna North Shore City
Phone: +64 9 488 9758 | Mobile: 027 281 0271 | kevin.loughlin@police.govt.nz