With rainwater harvesting, solar hot water, reused timber and energy-efficient air conditioning, the $23 million Belconnen Police Station is designed for the modern, green police officer.
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There is even a small home for 10 blue-tongue lizards, which the police have adopted as their mascot since an injured lizard was taken into care in the early 1980s at the old ''threadbare'' station.
Police advised the architect who designed the 2800 square metre building, which includes wide corridors to help equipment-laden police avoid bumping into walls when escorting people into custody.
There are 44 CCTV cameras and holding cells that have toilet privacy. The water tanks provide sufficient capacity for 62½ days without rain.
Still, there is one thing the building at 100 Benjamin Way cannot replace and that is the grinding, methodical police work to prevent crime and catch criminals. ''There is no substitute for good, old-fashioned hard work in breaking crime,'' Australian Federal Police Commissioner Tony Negus said yesterday after the opening. ''But the facilities do provide for technology to be used in a much more sensible way and much more effective way.''
And the new building will help lift staff morale, Commissioner Negus, who began his police career in Canberra about 30 years ago, said. ''The facilities these days are far better than we experienced almost 30 years ago,'' he said.
The pomp and ceremony was front and centre yesterday at the official opening of the new station, which has been in operation for about seven weeks. Today, the public will have an opportunity to tour the state-of-the-art facilities between 10am and 2pm.
ACT Police Minister Simon Corbell said the design of the building by architect Matthew Blair and the use of technologies, such as chilled beam air conditioning and motion-sensing system, would result in energy savings of about 40 per cent when compared to a standard building.
''Each holding cell has natural light, like all other areas of the station, and an element of privacy while satisfying custodial needs,'' Mr Corbell said. ''The private central courtyard forms the hub of the station and provides a sanctuary for police officers when needed.''
It is in the courtyard where the blue-tongue lizards are found.
Sergeant Matt Corbitt, officer in charge of the station, said: ''They are an emblem for the Belconnen Police Station,'' adding that the lizards are fed on canned pet food and fresh fruit and vegetables.
''At the moment we have 10 lizards, and three to five of those are pregnant, the expert tells us.''
