Western Australia Minister for Corrective Services Francis Logan

Work Begins On $23.7 Million Upgrade To Bunbury Regional Prison

Victor P Taffa

• Site works have begun for new 160-bed unit to ease Western Australia’s prison overcrowding
• Bunbury-based builder undertaking forward works
• Further upgrades to prison include reception and educational facilities
• $500,000 refurbishment of closed unit adding another 37 beds

McGowan Government has taken another step forward in addressing the inherited overcrowded prisons crisis.

“We took steps immediately on being elected to try to find a smart and efficient way of dealing with the prison overcrowding crisis we inherited from the previous government.” Minister for Corrective Services Francis Logan said.

 

“I am very pleased to see actual works begin on the construction of a new unit at Bunbury Regional Prison that will make a significant difference to prisoner numbers in regional Western Australia.”

Site works, by Bunbury-based builder Perkins WA, have begun at Bunbury Regional Prison, which will pave the way for a new 160-bed double-storey accommodation unit.

New unit is expected to be completed by the end of 2019 and will help with prisoner growth in regional Western Australia.

It is part of a $23.7 Million package to the prison that includes upgrades to the reception and educational facilities as well as the kitchen and a dining room.

It is expected that up to 70 % of the budgeted amount will be spent with local contractors, as part of the McGowan Government’s commitment to local jobs and local content where possible.

New Bunbury unit is 1 of 5 new units that will be built on existing prison footprints.

4 new units will be constructed at Casuarina Prison, adding 512 beds to the prison estate to further ease the pressure on the State’s jails.

5 new units and the extra beds that have already been added to existing cells throughout Western Australia jails, will result in nearly 900 new beds expected by the end of 2019.

“This expansion of the Bunbury Regional Prison is an example of the McGowan Government being true to its promise to prioritise local jobs and local content, and I am proud to be part of honouring that commitment.” Bunbury MLA Don Punch said.

Also announced today was the refurbishment of a previously closed accommodation unit at Bunbury Regional Prison that will add an immediate 37 beds to the prison.

$500,000 of refurbishment works have brought the unit back on-line after it was left empty under the previous Liberal National Government when prisoner numbers were increasing at a record growth.

 

Abbreviations:

WA                 Western Australia

MLA               Member of Legislative Assembly