A blessing was held in Hastings on Tuesday to mark the start of a year-long construction project to build a multimillion-dollar district police headquarters.
Construction of the three storey state-of-the-art facility will begin with the demolition of the old courthouse building on the corner of Railway Road and Eastbourne Street.
In attendance was Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst, Eastern District Commander Superintendent Tania Kura, and John Bower of local building company MCL Construction Ltd who were awarded the tender for the building phase of the $19.8 million project.
The project is due to be completed mid to late next year.
Once the building is finished, the old Hastings Police Station will be demolished for secure police parking.
Alternative sites had been considered but it was felt the courthouse site remained the best option.
The site is at the intersection of Eastbourne St and Railway Rd, adjoining the current Hastings Police Station, neighbouring the new courthouse and just south of the Hastings city centre.
Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said it was really exciting to see the new Eastern District Police Headquarters underway in the city centre as it was the result of a close two-year working relationship between Hastings District Council and New Zealand Police.
"The construction of the new Hastings police station is really positive for both the safety of our community and a boost for the Hastings business sector. It is great to see Hastings-based firm MCL Construction Ltd being awarded the contract for the construction phase of the project."
It would also improve public safety in the CBD.
Superintendent Kura said it was extremely gratifying to get to this point in the process and said it was exciting that Hawke's Bay was to get another purpose built building that meets the needs of police and the community.
Superintendent Kura also endorsed the Mayor's comments on the appointment of MCL Construction Ltd as the preferred contractor.