With its original Australia Day deadline passed, police association representative Ian Allwood said wet weather, lengthy asbestos removals and a Christmas shutdown had stifled the station's progress. He hoped renovations would be finished by March, with front counter operations ready within three weeks.

"It's no fun...we really are hanging on by the skin of our teeth," he said.

"It [construction] has lost time, but our members knew that."

Charging rooms and a new roof were still not finished.

Port commander Charles Haggett would not be drawn to commit to a March deadline.

"I wouldn't hold my breath," he said.

The Examiner understands that the final figure could fetch $1 million - $150,000 above budget.

Meanwhile, plans to construct a new station to be funded out of state government revenue by 2015, was still two elections away, Mr Allwood said.

Mr Allwood said he fought hard to reject a proposal to close the current Nelson Bay station during its upgrades and move officers to Raymond Terrace.

"We knew the community would have blown up and they deserve better than that," Mr Allwood said.

For now, officers will continue to work out of water police, mobile, and Lemon Tree Passage stations.