NSW Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley, Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland and NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar APM Southern Region Commander at the soon to be completed Bega Police Station. Photo: Marion Williams.
The new $23 million Bega Police Station is nearing completion and is expected to be operational and open to the public in September, assuming no further delays to its construction.
Building began in 2022 but the contractor, Project Coordination, entered voluntary administration and work stopped in February 2024. The new contractor, Sydney-based Pattersons Building Group, started on the project in March.
Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland said despite the 13-month pause, the project was only three months behind the original timeline.
He was at the construction site on 22 May (Thursday) with NSW Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley and NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar APM Southern Region Commander.
Dr Holland said they had visited every police station between Batemans Bay and Bega.
Ms Catley said the new facility would provide “outstanding policing for the Bega Valley and surrounds”.
The two-storey building will house 38 officers including general duties and specialist teams including detectives, domestic violence officers, Traffic and Highway Patrol officers and Forensic Evidence and Technical Services officers.
Ms Catley said the forensic unit was “second to none”. Mr Cassar said it would enable “quicker turnaround to identify the offenders”.
“This will improve our response to the local communities,” he said.
NSW Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley and Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland speaking at the press conference at the construction site of the Bega Police Station. Photo: Marion Williams.
When asked about the increase on the project’s original budget of $16 million, including the specialist crime unit with forensic services, Ms Catley said, “We are determined to deliver a fit-for-purpose facility”.
On Wednesday she attended a roundtable in Moruya which discussed the amount of crime, including drug crime, in the town.
During Thursday’s press conference she was asked about the situation whereby the police were unable to act on a person known to be trading drugs and recruiting young people to help them.
Ms Catley said there was a commitment from the police to sit down with the community and discuss the issue.
She said anybody with information about crimes should ring the police or Crime Stoppers. Posting such information on social media was not letting the police know.
She said the Attorney-General was reviewing the legislation that was preventing the police from acting on the person trading drugs in Moruya and drawing in youth around them.
Acting Superintendent Cath Flood, Acting Assistant Commissioner Kylie Endemi, Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar, Inspector Jeff McInnes, Minister Yasmin Catley and Dr Michael Holland. Photo: NSW Police.
When asked what would happen to the site of the current police station, Mr Cassar said the police did not own the property and it was Crown land.
Dr Holland said there was a native title claim on the property “so that would preclude any discussion about its future use”. He said the Bega High School adjacent to the property and the Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council had an interest in the property.
Ms Catley spoke about the efforts she and NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb are making to attract and retain people to the police force.
“We inherited low numbers when we came into government two years ago,” she said. “We are recruiting and they got the biggest pay increase last year.
“We have made some structural changes to make it more attractive to join including paying recruits while they are training at Goulburn.”
Ms Catley said more than 1000 would come through Goulburn this year and there were enhanced wraparound services to help retain police staff.
When asked if there were plans to increase police numbers in the area as the population grows, she said it was up to the police to decide where to direct resources.
Ms Catley said she had received great feedback on the police during her visit to the Far South Coast.
“The community down here are most thankful,” she said. “It is the place everyone comes to for assistance and they are in the community helping kids with their sport. They have their finger on the pulse and know who’s who.”
