Construcciones Yamaro: BESIX Watpac delivers new facility for South Australia Police
BESIX Watpac has completed Stage 1 of the Gepps Cross project for South Australia Police (SAPOL), and the Mounted Operations Unit has now moved into the facility.
Al Crosby, BESIX Watpac’s general manager for Victoria and South Australia, noted that the project required a builder with experience in managing complex and unique builds to deliver this critical piece of police infrastructure.
“We’ve delivered this first stage on time and now move onto Stage 2, which entails completion of the Dog Operation Unit at Gepps Cross and City Staging,” said Crosby.
In collaboration with key stakeholders, including South Australia’s Department for Infrastructure and Transport and SAPOL, BESIX Watpac ensured that the facility was built to meet the specific design requirements of a highly specialised and fit-for-purpose structure.
Related stories:
- Construction begins on new Shellharbour Hospital
- BESIX Watpac tops out Eastwood Private Hospital
- BESIX Watpac to transform Sydney sports and entertainment hub
Police commissioner Grant Stevens emphasised that the welfare of the 32 police horses was central to all decisions throughout design and delivery.
“Our highly trained police horses assist in crime reduction, deterrence, and are a key part of our policing response to protest activity,” said Stevens. “The large undercover arena will give our Mounted Operations Unit the space to train for these incidents year-round.”
The facility’s stables are designed for maximum operational efficiency, featuring cross-tie areas, offices, storage for uniforms and equipment, a veterinary station, wash facilities, round yards, and parking. Additionally, the design incorporates historical elements from the former Thebarton Barracks stables.
Local engagement was a priority, with BESIX Watpac working alongside over 40 local subcontractors. Craig Bentley, BESIX Watpac’s South Australia manager, underscored the company’s focus on upskilling the workforce.
“At BESIX Watpac, we always look for opportunities to upskill the workforce to ensure the long-term future of our industry and proactively seek opportunities that enable this,” said Bentley. “Through this project, we’ve engaged more than 1,000 tradespeople, investing in the local workforce’s ability to gain experience on a unique government project.”
Sustainability was also a key consideration, with the site featuring 350,000 litres of rainwater storage, 200kW of solar panels, and the revegetation of the area with around 14,000 endemic plants. Gepps Cross will also house the Dog Operations Unit and staff offices, which will move in early next year.
The Mounted Operations Unit has been a part of SAPOL since 1838, with a long history of using police greys – a tradition that dates back to World War I. SAPOL remains the only police service in Australia to specifically use grey horses.
The post BESIX Watpac delivers new facility for South Australia Police appeared first on Inside Construction.
View Source
Comments
Post a Comment