CONSTRUCTION BOOMING AT SOUTH COAST PRISON

Work on the expansion of South Coast Correctional Centre has reached the halfway point, boosting regional investment and supporting community safety. 
 
Minister for Corrections David Elliott, Parliamentary Secretary for the South Coast and Member for Kiama Gareth Ward, and Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock visited the site today to inspect progress of the new 360-bed facility. 
 
“The NSW Government is getting on with the job of reforming the prison sector, with our record investment delivering 2,100 corrections jobs in two years,” Mr Elliott said. 
 
“We have delivered an additional 2,764 prison beds, supported by a $330 million investment in rehabilitation programs and better supervision for high-risk offenders.” 
 
Mr Ward said the expansion was great news for the Shoalhaven community because it would create new jobs and those extra wages would have a positive effect on the local economy. 
 
“This centre has always had a strong relationship with the community, so it’s exciting to see this investment in the region take shape,” Mr Ward said. 
 
“An amenities building and staff carpark have already been built, while work is progressing on a number of minimum-security cell blocks.” 
 
The expansion includes: 

• Minimum-security cells for 200 inmates, programs and industries building; 
• New 160-bed maximum security wing; 
• Expansion of the visits area, clinic and car park; and 
• Upgrades to existing staff and inmate accommodation facilities. 

Mrs Hancock said the existing 690-bed facility employs about 200 local staff. 
 
“The prison has played an important role in our community since it opened in 2010 and the expanded facility will ensure the safety of our region for many years to come,” Mrs Hancock said.