Roger Cook says the upgrades at Kalamunda Hospital will ensure high quality palliative care. Photo: Gabriel Oliveira

$106m upgrades for police stations, hospital

Thursday, 13 August, 2020 - 13:00

Police stations and a Kalamunda hospital are set to receive more than $100 million worth of upgrades under the latest instalment of the state government’s economic recovery plan.

The McGowan government will spend $96.5 million on refurbishments to metropolitan and regional police stations, with majority of the funds to go towards construction of a new station at Fremantle.

It will be built at the former Stan Reilly Reserve site on South Terrace.

The rest of the allocated funding will go towards 15 police stations across the state including $9 million for five metropolitan stations.

Regional police stations will receive $13 million, while the remaining funding will go towards planning.

The state government said it had also set aside $4.2 million to build a new wharf and jetty for the Water Police’s Fremantle headquarters.

Police Minister Michelle Roberts said the funding would provide more effective police facilities, support local jobs and help the WA economy recovery from COVID-19.

“I’m particularly pleased we’ve been able to secure money on budget to build a state of the art complex for our police officers in Fremantle,” she said.

“Our police have been doing a magnificent job, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown, and we are doing our bit to ensure they have the facilities and equipment they need to do their job.”

Work on the upgrades will begin in the coming weeks.

It forms part of the state government's $5.5 billion WA Recovery Plan, which also includes a $9.5 million investment to upgrade services at Kalamunda Hospital.

The specialist hospital, located in the Perth Hills, currently has 25 palliative care beds.

The funding will go towards redeveloping the hospital's palliative care section to cater for patients who are unable to receive care at home.

Patient rooms will be reconfigurated to create single rooms with ensuits and improved access to outdoor spaces, while facilities and amenities will also be upgraded for families and carers.

The funding will also cover additional therapeutic spaces including gardens.

Health Minister Roger Cook said the upgrades would ensure high-quality palliative services at the hospital.

"Every Western Australian with a life-limiting illness has the right to high quality integrated end of life and palliative care," he said.

"Funding will help ensure Kalamunda Hospital can continue to provide high quality palliative care and respond to the dying person's individual needs, wishes and preferences, with the key objective being person-centred and dignified care."

The enhanced services will also include a day hospice and outpatient services including Telehealth.