POLICE Minister Mark Ryan and Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll officially opened the new $7.1 million Beaudesert Police Station.

The new station is the workplace for 25 police officers plus associated staff, who with other invitees watched the Minister and Commissioner unveil the plaque recording the details of the opening.

It was an event which was a long time coming says State Member for Scenic Rim, Jon Krause.

“The old Beaudesert Police Station opened in 1980 and at the time was allocated four officers and two cars,” he said.

Just over two decades later, the station was considered far from adequate.

“It was in 2004 when the old station was described as the ‘dump of the month’ by the Queensland Police Union,” Mr Krause said.

A decade later, under the then LNP government the process towards allocating funding for a larger and better resourced station began.

That process would take seven years as the building was constructed late in 2021.

On Thursday at the opening, Mr Krause described the building as a “workplace fit for purpose”.

“I thank our local police for their commitment to our community and I will keep fighting for our fair share of police resources – a brand new station for our police is a good start,” Mr Krause said.

Commissioner Carroll was equally enthusiastic about the new facility.

“As the local population has grown, so has the need for greater police presence and resources in the area.

“This new replacement facility enables Beaudesert Police to meet the current policing requirements of the community and allows for future expansion as the need arises.

“This tight-knit and diverse community now has access to a new and modern facility, equipped with the resources their local police need so they can be best placed to service the growing needs of the area.”

Minister Ryan’s impression of the new police workplace was that it was “an amazing new facility.

“I know that this newly built station will enable officers to continue the high standard and dedicated policing the community of Beaudesert and surrounds has seen so far, with values placed on community and crime prevention.”