Cochrane RCMP were pleased to hear that an approximate 2.095 acre land parcel along Highway 1A and the community of Heartland has been approved for the future RCMP building.

Cochrane RCMP Inspector Lauren Weare said the members were thrilled to hear the news.

"They were incredibly excited and all anybody was chatting about all day. Just the prospect of a new building; following years of anticipation for a new one has just got everyone revitalized and excited about where it's going to be, and what the new building's going to look like. Just allowing for smoother, better office space, and work environment."

Inspector Weare added that the new building will provide more working space to house the Provincial Traffic Services, Roving Traffic Services, and Cochrane and Area Victim Services; as far as other groups utilizing the space, Weare said they will need to wait to see the footprint of the building.

The new location will allow for what the RCMP hope are easier, faster response times.

"Not having to go through the actual downtown core is going to actually allow us, in theory, to be able to get to where we would like to go quicker and more efficiently."

Weare said she looks forward to working with the town on building plans and news on when shovels will be in the ground.

"We are hoping to listen to an announcement in the spring that they're going to start."