As part of ongoing consultation over the preferred site for the $270 million Northern Regional Prison, Minister for Corrections, Elise Archer is inviting Westbury community members to one-on-one discussions across three days next month.
The new prison is a major election commitment of the Hodgman majority Liberal Government.
Letters are being sent to more than 1,900 Meander Valley households and businesses inviting them to meet directly with Minister Archer in consultation sessions. These sessions will involve direct and genuine consultation between community members and the Minister.
This is in addition to the Department of Justice’s consultation, which has been underway for almost two months now.
We have listened extensively to the Westbury community and thank the residents and business owners who have already put forward constructive and informative feedback.
So far, this rigorous consultation in the Meander Valley has involved hearing directly from locals in an informal setting for direct consultation, as well as other visits and public meetings.
It is important to remember that a final decision on the location of the new Northern Regional Prison has not yet been made.
Our commitment to deliver a new prison will ease demand on our prison system and deliver much needed jobs and services.
The $270 million project will bring many economic benefits to the region and is anticipated to create hundreds of local jobs during construction and 250 permanent jobs once the prison is fully operational.
Only the Hodgman majority Liberal Government will deliver this part of our $350 million infrastructure program to improve and upgrade Tasmania’s prison system.
The sessions will take place on: