Pindan Constructions has won an $18 million contract to build a three-storey office complex at the former Midland Railway Workshops for the WA Police.
The full text of an announcement from the Minister for Housing and Works, Michelle Roberts, is pasted below
The Western Australia Police's presence at the former Midland Railway Workshops is set to grow with an $18million, three-storey office facility to be constructed in the heritage-listed *Flanging Shop.
Housing and Works Minister Michelle Roberts today announced that Pindan Constructions had been awarded the contract for construction.
"The construction of this new building for the WA Police will be a challenging process, as the existing building will be renovated to comply with heritage conditions, including retention of some of the heritage-listed Flanging Shop machinery," Mrs Roberts said.
"The design is a visually light glass and steel structure that will contrast dramatically with the historic 1910 brick-clad building."
The Minister, who is also the Member for Midland and Heritage Minister, said the Flanging Shop was one of the first brick buildings constructed on the historic workshop site.
"The facility was originally the paint shop and was used for munitions manufacture during the Second World War," she said.
"The building is considered to be a fine example of 19th century-early 20th century industrial architecture."
Forward works on the site commenced in May and will be completed shortly.
Construction of the building is expected to commence later this month and be complete by February 2008.
About 330 personnel from a range of WA Police city offices will relocate to the new, 4,124sq.m facility by March 2008.
A number of key WA Police support facilities have been relocated to new premises in Midland over the past five years, including the police communications centre and forensic complex.
*Note: flanging is a metalwork process whereby solid iron is cast into shape. At the Midland Railway Workshops, the most common product of flanging was the wheels used on railway locomotives and carriages.
