As Minister for Corrections I was delighted to turn the first sod on the $70 million Southern Remand Centre project at the Risdon Prison site.
The Southern Remand Centre is a key project of the Hodgman majority Liberal Government’s $350 million infrastructure program to improve Tasmania’s prison system.
Once complete, the Southern Remand Centre will significantly increase the capacity of the prison system, providing better conditions for remandees and allowing separation from the general prison population.
More than 130 jobs are expected to be created during construction of the 140-bed facility, with 50 ongoing jobs created upon completion.
Hazell Brothers Group Pty Ltd has been awarded the contract for the preliminary works.
The managing contractor for the main construction works is expected to be announced shortly.
Construction is scheduled to start in March next year, with all stages of the facility to be fully operational by the end of 2021.
Alongside the Southern Remand Centre project, a further $9.34 million has been provided to expand and upgrade shared facilities within the Risdon Prison Complex, including upgrades to the gatehouse, health centre, visits areas, kitchen and prisoners processing area.
The Hodgman majority Liberal Government’s prison infrastructure plan also includes a new 270-bed Northern Prison, with the preferred site to be announced very soon.
While we make no apology for being tough on serious crime, we want offenders to rehabilitate and get their lives back on track, becoming productive, law-abiding members of society who no longer pose a threat to the community.