The Tasmanian Liberal Government is continuing to invest in prison infrastructure across the State with work progressing well on the new Southern Remand Centre (SRC) at the Risdon Prison site.
The SRC will help to alleviate pressure on our prison system by significantly increasing capacity, providing accommodation for 156 male remandees in two accommodation units, with shared recreational spaces.
It will be the State’s first purpose-built facility designed specifically for people on remand, to allow them to be held entirely separate from the sentenced prisoner population.
The two accommodation buildings, to be named Acacia and Blue Gum, and the health clinic are all now significantly advanced, with work underway on fencing, landscaping and construction of outdoor facilities on the site.
Work is also underway on a number of upgrades to shared facilities within the Risdon Prison Complex, including the gatehouse, main health building and significant improvements to the visitor centre.
Hansen Yuncken are completing the works, which is supporting around 130 jobs during the construction phase.
Work is now underway to recruit staff, with the selection process for the Superintendent nearing completion and two recruit schools planned this year, with the first of those already underway. We are also planning for more recruitment courses next year as well as intensive recruitment of Correctional Officers nationally.
The total value of the SRC and shared facilities upgrade work is $94.34 million, with construction completed and fully operational in early 2022.