A purpose-built police facility in Ripley has officially opened its doors, bringing a significant boost to frontline policing across the Ipswich region and reflecting growing demand for police services in a rapidly expanding area.
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The $38 million Ripley Police Facility is a purpose-built three-storey complex that serves as both a local station and the new headquarters for Ipswich District Police, consolidating general duties alongside a suite of specialist units under one roof. These include the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), the Child Protection Investigation Unit (CPIU), and the Forensic Crash Unit (FCU), among others.
An official opening ceremony marked the occasion, with Acting Commissioner of Police Brett Pointing on hand to acknowledge the milestone for the community.
“This new facility is more than a building — it’s a hub for community safety,” Acting Commissioner Pointing said.
“The brand-new facility aligns general duties, as well as specialist proactive and reactive units to coordinate and place QPS resources where they are most needed and can be most effective.”
The facility can accommodate more than 200 police officers and support staff, and has been designed with future growth in mind. That scalability matters in a region the QPS has flagged as having a rapidly growing population.
Construction wrapped up in early 2026, and the station’s coverage footprint is considerable. Officers based at Ripley now service communities stretching from Toogoolawah in the north to Boonah in the south, Goodna in the east, and through the Brisbane Valley as far west as Rosewood.
Ipswich District Officer Acting Superintendent Ben MacKenzie said the building was designed with day-to-day policing operations firmly in mind. Key features include major incident rooms, dedicated Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) spaces, forensic science laboratories, and a vehicle examination bay.
“The addition of these general duties officers at the Ripley Station will strengthen our presence in the area and ensures the QPS can continue to meet the ever evolving and unique needs of this growing community,” Acting Superintendent MacKenzie said.
Thirty QPS officers now serve as part of the general duties complement at Ripley Station, bolstering the frontline capability of the new facility.
Acting Superintendent MacKenzie also pointed to the station’s central location as a genuine opportunity to build stronger ties between police and the people they serve.
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“The central location will provide a valuable opportunity to enhance our relationships with the community and foster greater public confidence in our efforts to keep the community safe,” he said.
For residents of Springfield Lakes, Ripley, and surrounding suburbs, the opening is a tangible sign that policing infrastructure is being scaled to meet the demands of a growing region.
Published 6-May-2026
