THE NSW Government's Lands Department blocked alternative locations for a huge $8million Tweed Byron police headquarters, forcing the NSW Police Force to opt for the beachfront site of the current Kingscliff station.

The government's refusal to allow the use of other properties at Cabarita Beach, north Pottsville, and central Pottsville are detailed in the development application for the Kingscliff site.

The application also reveals the size of the planned new headquarters, which if successful would occupy a central Kingscliff block bounded by Marine Pde on the beachfront, Kingscliff and Pearl Sts.

The building presents almost as three storeys from some aspects, with room for 88 personnel during a “major shift”.

A number of alternative sites were considered.

These included a site on the Tweed Coast Rd at Kings Forest, which was considered too far from a major commercial/residential area.

Another site on the corner of the Tweed Coast Rd and Sandalwood Dr, Cabarita Beach, was owned by Department of Lands and earmarked for subdivision and sale as residential. The consultants said the department was against selling to the NSW Police Force

They also looked at Department of Lands sites in North Pottsville and central Pottsville, but could not proceed for the “same reasons”.