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Upgrade On Track As Remand Centre Marks First Decade

27 May 2016

Minister for Corrections Steve Herbert today inspected the progress of the Andrews Labor Government’s major upgrade to the Metropolitan Remand Centre.

Mr Herbert also attended an anniversary event marking 10 years since the remand centre opened, with a number of staff receiving awards in recognition of their service.

The prison received $95 million in the Victorian Budget 2016-17 for capital and operational improvements.

This included $52 million in infrastructure hardening announced last December, after former Victoria Police Deputy Chief Commissioner Kieran Walshe handed down his independent report into the June 2015 riot.

The works will make the prison safer for staff, contractors and prisoners, as well as boost the education and industry programs available to prisoners.

It also included $23 million in capital improvements including:

  • new service buildings to improve separation of prisoners, dividing the prison into five discrete accommodation areas
  • fencing around the prison’s recreation area and
  • new Security and Emergency Services Group (SESG) vehicles.

The funding will also allow the prison to increase capacity to run education and work-related programs, due to more secure accommodation and industry compounds.

The works are expected to take 12 to 18 months to complete.

Mr Herbert also inspected works on the new Ravenhall Prison, to be opened next year, and visited the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, in his first week as Minister for Corrections.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Corrections Steve Herbert

“Our investment in the Metropolitan Remand Centre will make it safer for staff and more secure for the community.

“The Remand Centre has hundreds of dedicated staff members and it was fantastic to meet some of them and recognise their hard work over the past ten years.”

“I look forward to visiting Victoria’s prisons over the next few weeks to meet the dedicated staff and get a first hand look at their needs.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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