Freo police complex project advances

WA Police has submitted its application to build an $87 million, four-storey Fremantle complex, a state government-funded project that has been years in the making.

Earlier this month, the Department of Finance, on behalf of WA Police Force, lodged an application with the state’s Metro Inner-South Joint Development Assessment Panel to build a Fremantle Police District Complex at 94 South Terrace.

The project was first announced by then-police minister Michelle Roberts in mid-2020, as part of the $96.5 million WA Recovery Plan to upgrade police stations across the state.

In September 2021, the state government allocated an additional $35 million in that year’s state budget on top of a $52.6 million commitment announced the year before.

The additional funding came after the project was revised in 2021 to increase the number of proposed levels and add a basement car park.

The Department of Finance report, which was recently published on the City of Fremantle website, said the Fremantle complex was expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2026.

The police complex is to be build next to the Old Synagogue. Image: Cox Architecture via City of Fremantle document

The report said the original Fremantle police station was declared unsafe in 2013, because of severe asbestos issues.

“The Fremantle District Police Complex includes sufficient area in line with the anticipated increase of police officers to meet community needs currently, and into the future - up to 358 full-time equivalent at full capacity,” it said.

“Police operations in Fremantle have been addressed through four separate leased sites since 2013, with additional staff being accommodated from two WA Police Force owned facilities from which they deliver their services.

“There is no further capacity for these premises to expand and accommodate the growth in police service to the Fremantle district or meet current operational, community and officer safety requirements.

“The four existing lease agreements have been extended to allow adequate time to construct the Fremantle District Police Complex.”

A development application for the first stage of the project, including ensuring the site had been de-risked, was approved by the Western Australian Planning Commission in October.

The subject site is the former Stan Reilly Reserve site near the corner of South Terrace and Parry Street, adjacent to Fremantle's Old Synagogue.