Major projects

Brisbane Watchhouse and Roma Street Magistrates Courts

Description

The $28.9 million Brisbane Watchhouse and Roma Street Magistrates Courts complex is the biggest and busiest in the state.

The facility features a full suite of the latest electronic surveillance and emergency response equipment, which meets the highest standards of detainee control, human rights and operational functionality.

Police operating the watchhouse can control surveillance equipment, door locks, intercoms, lighting, air-conditioning, radio and television with the simple touch of a screen.

Integrating all these functions into one system that would be easy to use and not require dedicated specialists to operate it, presented a major challenge for Public Works' engineers.

They worked closely with security and communications technology suppliers to meet the tough design specifications for the new security system. Software was even specifically written to enable the various components of the system to work smoothly together.

This facility has helped police to realise their vision of a state-of-the-art watchhouse that harnesses the power of technology to make their job easier, safer and responsive to changing social needs and community expectations.

Facts and figures

Public Works developed the project brief in conjunction with the Queensland Police Service and the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, and handled procurement for the construction of the facility.
Project Services, a business unit of the Department of Public Works, as well as designing the electronic security and communications, was also the project manager as well as the electronic and mechanical engineering consultant to the builder Watpac.
The facility has more than 200 surveillance cameras - 136 in the detention and other sensitive areas of the watchhouse. The exterior is fully camera-monitored and there are movement sensors on the roof. Latest technology is also included in cell call points, intercoms, door locks, lighting and duress alarm systems.
The facility has the capacity for real-time video recording of all cameras including those in the breath analysis units and at the charge counter, as well as 24-hour real-time recording of prisoner property transfer and audio-recording of the charge counter.