An additional 162 new beds will be built at Barwon Prison as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $1.8 billion major investment to ensure Victoria’s prison system is able to meet future demand.
The new maximum-security beds are expected to be operational in 2021, enabling the prison to accommodate 640 prisoners.
Supporting infrastructure for the additional beds that will also be built includes a new medical and clinical administration building, an industry building and visitor centre. The existing programs and medical building will be refurbished and repurposed, and internal fencing will also be built.
The expansion of Barwon Prison will create local jobs and deliver supporting infrastructure to strengthen existing security and services at the facility. A request for tender for early works – which includes fencing, car parks and site offices – will be released on Thursday 26 September 2019.
Across the Victorian prison system, 1600 new beds will become available as part of the 2019/20 Victorian Budget’s $1.8 billion investment in planning for growth and delivering programs to break the cycle of reoffending and keeping people out of prison.
Of the 1600 new beds, 626 of these will be delivered using pre-fabricated modular cells to reduce construction timeframes and overall costs. Twenty-four management beds will also be pre-fabricated.
There will be a mixture of single and double pre-fabricated modular cells, which will be permanently installed across a number of prisons in Victoria.
The Local Jobs First – Victorian Industry Participation Policy local content requirements will ensure Victorian contractors and workers are given the opportunity to build the new statewide pre-fabricated modular cells, with registered apprentices, trainees and cadets to make up 10 per cent of the project’s total estimated labour hours.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Corrections Ben Carroll
“We are strengthening Barwon Prison by increasing its capacity and investing in key infrastructure to keep staff and the community safe.”
“We know that community safety is more than just building more prison beds – that's why we’re boosting prison programs and investing in education and skill development.”
Quote attributable to Member for Lara John Eren
“Across the state our infrastructure projects are creating hundreds of local jobs and creating a more secure prison system that enhances community safety.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020