Carnarvon Police and Justice Complex
Commemorative Booklet
Official Opening by the Minister for Police and Attorney General - Tuesday 14 April 2015
Messages from the Ministers
Hon Terry Redman MLA - Minister for Regional Development
The Carnarvon Police and Justice Complex is another example of the commitment the State
Government’s Royalties for Regions program has made to improving the provision of social services in
regional Western Australia. The Royalties for Regions investment of $9.5 million, through the Gascoyne
Revitalisation Plan, supplements the $43 million committed by the State Government to build a new
multifunctional facility to house the courthouse, police station and community corrections services
in Carnarvon. Extensive community consultation, including with elders from Carnarvon’s Aboriginal
community, has ensured the building design incorporates features suited to local needs. The new
multipurpose facility will ensure the current and future justice needs of the community are met.
Hon Liza Harvey MLA - Minister for Police
It was in 1882 that a police post was set up in Carnarvon, which typically meant an officer operating
from a tent or basic shack, probably constructed by him. Today, three critical arms of Government
services are co-located in one facility, creating a modern, state-of-the-art Police and Justice Complex.
From this facility, police will be able to provide better services to the local community. It also provides
better conditions for our officers and everyone who carries out business here. The State Government is
committed to supporting the provision of high standard policing services in regional Western Australia.
This complex can accommodate 30 police personnel and will become an important facility in Carnarvon.
Hon Michael Mischin MLC - Attorney General
The new Carnarvon Police and Justice Complex heralds a significant improvement in the delivery of
justice services to the Gascoyne and surrounding regions. True to the State Government’s commitment
to involve key interest groups in the development of this complex, the planners consulted and
collaborated with the judiciary, the Community Reference Group, Aboriginal Community Groups and
local residents in its design and functions. The product is an outstanding, modern, centre for the
administration of justice which will serve the community for many years, and will be a centrepiece for
the regional capital that is the town of Carnarvon. I sincerely thank everyone for their hard work and
commitment in bringing to fruition this important project. They – along with the building they have
helped create – are now equally a part of Carnarvon’s future and what will become its heritage.
Hon Joe Francis MLA - Minister for Corrective Services
The new Carnarvon Police and Justice Complex provides a safe, contemporary environment for the
Department of Corrective Services to effectively manage offenders in the community. Having access
to updated technology and improved facilities supports corrections staff to carry out the valuable work
they do in, and for, the community. Being co-located with police and courts strengthens partnerships
among justice colleagues to enhance community safety in Carnarvon and the wider Gascoyne region.
The region will now gain the benefit of this interagency model for delivery of services that has brought
positive results for corrections in other parts of the State.
Hon Bill Marmion MLA - Minister for Finance
I take great pleasure in facilitating the delivery of the impressive new Carnarvon Police and Justice
Complex for the Gascoyne communities and the Government agencies who provide vital services in
the area. This $52.5 million project, delivered on-time and on-budget by the Department of Finance’s
Building Management and Works, provides the greater region with superb new court, police and
community corrections facilities. The centre’s Carnarvon stone walls impart a unique regional character,
while the precast concrete construction provides important maintenance and sustainability features.
This building has been specifically designed for the climatic demands of the region and includes
design features to improve the security of both staff and clients.
Order of proceedings
Welcome and introduction
Ms Cheryl Gwilliam, Director General
Department of the Attorney General
Time capsule presentation
Unveiling of the Carnarvon Police and
Justice Complex opening plaque
Welcome to Country
Ms Hazel Walgar
Hon Michael Mischin MLC
Attorney General
Attorney General’s address
Hon Liza Harvey MLA
Minister for Police
Hon Michael Mischin MLC
Attorney General
Minister for Police’s address
Hon Liza Harvey MLA
Minister for Police
Minister for Regional Development’s address
Represented by Mr Vince Catania MLA
Member for North West Central
Mr Vince Catania MLA
Member for North West Central
Refreshments
Carnarvon Police and Justice Complex tours
Collaboration and
community involvement
The Community Reference Group, established
in 2011, represented the views of the
Carnarvon community.
In addition, two Gascoyne Aboriginal groups were
consulted during the project presentations.
The Aboriginal Congress and the Gwoonwardu Mia
Aboriginal Reference Group worked closely with the
Department of the Attorney General, the WA Police and
the Department of Corrective Services to communicate
the views of their communities to the project team for
the Complex.
This feedback, together with the input from the
judiciary and the wider Gascoyne community influenced
many of the design aspects, including internal design
elements, public areas and community public art.
A contemporary
Police and Justice Complex
The $52.5 million Carnarvon Police and Justice Complex
is a modern justice facility which has a police station,
courthouse and community corrections offices.
The Complex is a fitting new entry statement to
Carnarvon and the welcoming design has a strong
civic presence, whilst also offering public spaces which
enable people to conduct their business.
Sustainability was a key project focus, with the aims
of protecting the environment and conserving natural
resources with many building materials specified, as
assessed, as Good Environmental Choice – Australia
(GECA).
The Carnarvon Police and Justice Complex
has been designed in accordance with
a four Green Star Public Building Design
rating. The Green Building Council of
Australia recognises GECA as a third party
certification body for Green Star projects.
First-class facilities
Carnarvon Courthouse
The courthouse design creates a
sense of openness, space and light.
Generously-sized waiting areas
connect visually to the outdoors.
The magistrates courtroom has
views to the landscaped courtyard
which assists to create a sense of
openness and calm.
The jury courtroom is also a light
and large space, which utilises
filtered daylight via high level
windows.
The roof references the design
simplicity and the variety of
volumes in the interior spaces.
Natural timbers are the material of
choice for the built-in furniture and
complement the external concrete,
stone cladding and glass.
Courthouse highlights
Facilities
• Registry and administration areas
• Jury assembly and deliberation rooms
• Mediation and pre-trial conference facilities
• Public foyer and waiting areas, including a secure
outdoor courtyard
• Universal access provisions.
Security
• Community safety and the safety of judicial officers,
court staff and court clients is a design priority
• The security design and fit-out is sensitive to the varied
needs of different user groups
• The courthouse has a specialised security management
system.
Public Spaces
• Separate areas for court clients (including witnesses,
jurors and alleged offenders)
• Different types of areas (indoor and secure outdoor) to
meet the needs of diverse court users
• The use of natural light and space volumes to create
light and airy spaces for the benefit of public use
• Separate public car park for courthouse business
Courtrooms
• One jury courtroom
• One magistrates courtroom
Technology
The latest electronic equipment adds to the versatility,
flexibility and efficiency of courthouse operations and
includes:
• Fully integrated, high definition, touchscreen video
link facilities, including remote witness facilities
•
•
•
High definition displays, including dedicated displays
for jurors for demonstrating evidence and streaming
images of remote participants into the courtroom
Electronic signage presenting daily court listings
An electronic tablet at the jury court witness bench
to display evidence, including
•Photographs and video content
•Digital audio recording systems for courthearings
•Audio visual facilities
First-class facilities
Carnarvon Police Station
Designed in accordance with Australian and WA Police Building Code Standards (including WA Police Custodial
Design Guidelines) the new police station is a modern, operational facility with potential for future growth.
Police Station highlights
Facilities
• Custody facilities, include holding cells
• Video interview and operations rooms
• Drug and property stores
• Breath testing room
• Armoury
• Large sally-port, with capacity for prisoner
transport vans
• Generator back-up service to provide
supplementary power when required.
Security
• CCTV systems to monitor detainees during
all stages of processing as well as the
external security of the site
• Electronic systems, including cell call and
duress alarm
•
•
Sophisticated, electronic security systems to
control and monitor access within the
Complex and its grounds
Secure link between the police holding facilities
and the courthouse.
Police staffing
• Police officers, detectives, prosecutors and
a customer service officer will be located
at the station
• The station has capacity for current and future
staffing requirements.
Public spaces
• Large public reception with a universal access toilet
• Landscaped front courtyard
• Public car parking including universal access
disabled bays.
Artwork
Artists from the Gascoyne region and beyond have
made a significant contribution to the Complex.
Connection to Country is a driving passion for many of
the artists. The artworks take many forms - from the
glass mural in the courthouse and police entries to the
sandblast designs of local flora and Aboriginal shield
motifs on the aluminum seats in the central external
courtyard.
The striking 12-metre long, cast glass mural in the
courthouse entry and a pair of slim glass panels,
positioned either side of the entry to the Police Station
are the result of a collaboration between Sydney artist,
Warren Langley and members of the Jilinbirri Weavers:
Antoinette Roe, Elaine Moncrieff, Esma McMahon, Avy
Robinson and Marjorie Winmar.
In 2012, Warren and the weavers went on field trips,
photographing raw materials and woven objects
to create unique drawings and patterns. Warren
transformed the drawings into the final glass artwork,
interspersing weaving patterns with text taken from
local oral histories.
Glass engraver Tony Hanning worked with Carnarvon
artist Barry Bellotti, who engraves emu eggs, to
sandblast designs of endemic flora and Aboriginal
shield motifs onto four aluminum seats in the external
courtyard.
The artworks in the courthouse entry are in display
cases. They include two emu eggs by Barry, nestled
on soft nests made by Esma, small woven baskets
by Elaine Moncrieff and Marjorie Winmar and the
Bungarra, cast in bronze from an original woven form,
also by Marjorie.
The artworks connect back to the original weaving
and carving skills that were so important to the
development of the glass and seats.
In the main courthouse waiting area, three large
digital images are a collaborative fusion of landscape
photography by Anton Blume and Bonni Ingram’s
symbolic paintings, whereas behind the main reception
desk there is a beautifully rendered, realist, landscape
painting by Sadie James.
Artists
Barry Bellotti
Anton Blume
Tony Hanning
Bonni Ingram
Sadie James
Warren Langley
Esma McMahon
Elaine Moncrieff
Avy Robinson
Antoinette Roe
Marjorie Winmar
Carnarvon Police and Justice Complex
The new Carnarvon Police and Justice Complex was officially opened on 14 April 2015 by the
Minister for Police Hon Liza Harvey MLA and the Attorney General Hon Michael Mischin MLC.
The Carnarvon Police and Justice Complex was designed by
Cox, Howlett & Bailey Woodland Architects in association with Paterson Group Architects.
The builder was EMCO Building.
The project manager was the Department of Finance (Building Management and Works).
The project was partially funded by the State Government’s Royalties for Regions Program.
Carnarvon Police and Justice Complex
Corner Robinson Street and Babbage Island Road
CARNARVON WA 6701