CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON JUNEE CORRECTIONAL CENTRE EXPANSION

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Dozens of construction workers and tradies are working away on site at the Junee Correctional Centre’s 480 bed maximum security expansion which will create a further 130 jobs when complete.

Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke MP, visited the construction site today to inspect the works and reported that the first delivery of modular cells had already arrived for the building of the inmate accommodation block.

“The temporary gatehouse and administration buildings have been delivered and are expected to be operational shortly,” she said.

Ongoing works include perimeter fencing with the farm storage building erected and currently being externally clad.

Works also include refurbishment and extension to existing buildings including the health centre, stores, kitchens, laundry, industries building and expansion of the Shine for Kids facility.

Ms Cooke said a consultative committee, represented by a broad cross-section of the community, had been established to ensure the community was kept up-to-date on construction works, operational matters and recruitment related to the expansion.

“Since opening in 1993, Junee Correctional Centre has been a good neighbour in the Riverina community and we intend to maintain and build on that relationship as the centre expands,” Ms Cooke said.

“The Junee Community Consultative Committee aims to develop and maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with the community to facilitate outside involvement in the centre’s programs, especially those which can positively assist the people of Junee,” she said.

Ms Cooke said these new beds at Junee would also support the NSW Government’s Better Prison Program to lift standards, strengthen accountability and help meet the NSW Government’s goal to reduce reoffending by five per cent by 2019.

The construction is part of the NSW Government’s $3.8 billion investment into increasing prison capacity across the state and has created almost 300 jobs during construction.

“This will have a positive impact on the Junee and Wagga Wagga economies as the tradies and other construction workers will shop, eat and stay locally,” she said.

Construction is due for completion in late 2019.

For more information, visit newprisons.justice.nsw.gov.au