The owners of the Yarralumla land that houses the ACT's water police headquarters say they have no intention to develop the site after the police vacate the building.
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The site's owner, Gulbahar Kaya, said multiple offers had been made to ACT police to keep the water police at the Lake Burley Griffin location, even proposing to reduce the rent.
The ACT water police are expected to leave the headquarters by the end of the year.
Ms Kaya, also the owner of the Ottoman restaurant in Barton, said several attempts had been over the past six months to retain the water police at the site, to no success.
"We have no plans for the site and we would like for them to stay," Ms Kaya said.
"We've said we would be open to a reduced rent. We've done everything we can think of to get them to stay."
Ms Kaya bought the site in 2003 and the water police have been the only tenant at the Yarralumla location in the past 16 years.
She said the police signaled their intention to leave the Yarralumla headquarters back in April, with the lease being renewed month-to-month.
"We were told there were funding cuts to policing," Ms Kaya said.
"There was talk to remodel the site [for ACT police] and we had some basic designs and engaged architects and consultants to accommodate their brief.
"It's an ideal site for them, and there's jetties and fuel tanks there and the location is near the centre of the lake."
Lake stakeholders were informed of the water police move earlier this year.
An ACT police spokesman said police would continue to patrol Lake Burley Griffin and respond to incidents on the water.
"It should be noted that the current considerations relate to buildings that house the water police staff, not watercraft," the spokesman said.
"ACT Policing regularly reviews its operational sites and ongoing suitability and is considering future requirements for the water police."
ACT police declined to comment on the reason for the move away from the Yarralumla headquarters.
Two new patrol boats were purchased by ACT police in October 2018 for use on Lake Burley Griffin, just months before the decision was made to vacate the premises.
Water police equipment will remain in the area, but instead be stored at a mobile facility.
Ms Kaya said the National Capital Authority would determine the future use of the Yarralumla site once the water police move out.
She said she was still open to future negotiations.
"There have been no issues at all in the past 16 years with the water police as tenants," Ms Kaya said.
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
