Cop shop doubles in cost

EXACTLY double the $800,000 originally allocated to upgrade Nelson Bay police station will have been spent ahead of tomorrow's fourth project deadline.

The Examiner can reveal, despite previous promises that the project remained on budget, the total cost of works will blow-out to $1.6 million just one day out from the June 29 completion date - the third since the original December deadline.

According to NSW police property group acting manager Superintendent Darryl Tuck there were a number of significant factors that led to the cost increase.

"The scope increased to address some issues that emerged during construction such as asbestos remediation, and latent conditions in the soil," he told the Examiner.

"The upgrade of the CCTV program to the latest specification system costs were not part of the included original estimate however it was timely to undertake those works at this time."

Police association representative Ian Allwood said despite the six month delay, Nelson Bay can now lay claim to having the best police station in country NSW.

"It's been a long road...but you won't find a better [police] station in country NSW," he said.

"The policing future [for the Bay] looks bright."

"It [the station] is state-of-the-art...there's three secure prison docks, male, female and juvenile, and there's dedicated interview rooms."

There is also a fully-digital finger print system, secure prisoner van dock at the station's rear, improved prisoner handling cells, a new kitchen, disability access, toilet and shower rooms.

At one stage earlier this year about 24 police officers were working from a space allocated to four at the Bay's water police unit.

"The important thing was to get out of the water police," the Port's acting commander Superintendent Trevor Shiels said.

"It [the station] is now built to cater for large scale operations."

Only minor improvements will be made to the building after tomorrow, including painting and repairs to the station's windows and the facade.