Construction of 460 prefabricated steel modular jail cells to boost prisoner capacity at five Victorians prisons will be backed by $41 million in state government funding.
Minister for Corrections, Natalie Hutchins said work on the new cells would begin shortly.
“Across the state our infrastructure projects are creating thousands of local jobs and a more secure prison system that enhances community safety,” said Mr Hutchins.
“These state-of-the-art prison cells will be manufactured offsite in Campbellfield then installed at each prison.”
She said around 20 local manufacturing jobs would be created under the contract with Modular Building Systems Pty Ltd, with work on plumbing, electrical, furniture and fixtures undertaken in the Melbourne suburb of Campbellfield.
The cell manufacturing is the first stage of a program to expand the capacity of five Victorian prisons, announced in the Victorian Budget 2019/20, to provide prisons with flexibility to meet future needs.
Construction across the five sites is expected to be completed by mid-2023, with Barwon Prison to be the first to have the new cells installed.
Supporting infrastructure for the additional beds at Barwon will include a visitor centre, light industries building and men’s shed. The existing programs and medical building will also be expanded and refurbished, and internal fencing will be built.
“Much of the manufacturing will take place in Campbellfield, so we will improve the availability of jobs for local people in plumbing, electrical skills and making fixtures and furniture. This will be made all the more impactful through the work of Broadmeadows Revitalisation Board,” said Member for Broadmeadows and chair of the Broadmeadows Revitalisation Board, Frank McGuire.
