The South Australian Police’s Mounted Operations Unit is getting ready to move address as its current home at the Thebarton Police Barracks is being moved to make way for a new Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
Announcing the plan, Premier Peter Malinauskas said SAPOL’s much-loved Police Greys would need to find a new home off the Adelaide Parklands.
“In March, the Government announced that it was assessing SAPOL’s preferred site to rehome the Mounted Operations Unit a parcel of land in Park 21 West (Mirnu Wirra) in the Adelaide Park Lands,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“After an exhaustive investigation of the available options both on and off Park Lands, and negotiations with Government and private sector stakeholders, the Government has decided not to proceed with the Park 21 option,” he said.
“The Government has instead reached agreed commercial terms with Adelaide Airport Limited (AAL) in seeking to finalise an interim and permanent home for the unit.”
The Premier said there were two suitable sites on airport land with both to be investigated.
“A suitable portion of Government-owned land at Gepps Cross has also been identified, should an alternative option be required,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“Each of the identified sites provide central, secure locations with ample space to meet the needs of the Greys and the officers of the Mounted Operations Unit,” he said.
“The government will also provide a CBD staging post for the Mounted Operations Unit on vacant government-owned land on Wright Street behind the Supreme Court.”
He said the Unit needed to move to make way for early works on the $3.2 billion New Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
“That project will deliver a bigger, better Women’s and Children’s Hospital and leave enough room for future expansion of the Royal Adelaide Hospital,” Mr Malinauskas said.
“I thank the Police Commissioner and SAPOL officers for their efforts in reaching this outcome,” he said.
