POLICING of the Westlakes area has received a major boost with the opening on Tuesday of the new Toronto police station.
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It’s the third new police station for the Lake Macquarie Local Area Command in two years.
It follows the opening of new stations in Belmont, in 2015, and Morisset, in June last year.
The three new stations, built at a combined cost of $29 million, replace three ageing buildings that had long passed their use-by date.
Sergeant Paul Winn said the Toronto digs were a significant and welcome improvement.
“It’s big. It’s roomy. And it will cater for policing on the western side of the lake for the next 20 or 30 years,” Sergeant Winn said of the Toronto building.
Better facilities were good for officers’ morale, and made for a more efficient and welcoming experience for customers, he said.
Up to 50 general duties police would work out of the new building which has been designed for possible expansion.
It includes three docks and interview rooms.
“There has also been a complete upgrade of our computers and electronic equipment, and there’s surveillance right through the station, inside and out,” Sergeant Winn said.
The new building has been constructed on the site of the former dilapidated Toronto police station, at the corner of Cary and Thorne streets.
Sergeant Winn said the location was ideal.
“Geographically we cover a large area, and the station is in the middle of the lake,” he said.
“We cover from Wyee up to Mount Sugarloaf and Cardiff, and out to the Watagans.”
Tuesday’s opening coincided with the closure of the police station at Boolaroo, where Toronto-based police has been housed during construction at Toronto.
Lake Macquarie Local Area Commander, Superintendent Brett Greentree, said the new station would be officially opened later this year.
“However, the doors are open to the public and they’ll be able to contact the station 24/7 on 4088 1099,” he said.
“I’d also like to remind members of the community that in the event of an emergency they should contact Triple Zero (000) immediately.
“We look forward to unveiling the final station in the near future, which will include improved facilities designed to best serve the local community.”
He urged locals not to attempt to contact Boolaroo police station because it was no longer in use.
