MEMBER for Bathurst Paul Toole says reopening Kirkconnell Correctional Centre would help the state deal with its overcrowded prison problem.
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At a time when the NSW Government is considering housing inmates in demountable cell blocks, it is now facing the embarrassment of having closed not only Kirkconnell, but also facilities at Parramatta and Berrima.
Those closures resulted in the loss of about 900 beds, and with tougher new bail laws on the horizon, it is anticipated inmate numbers will only further increase.
The push to get Kirkconnell reopened has the support of Bathurst MP Paul Toole, who yesterday said he was interested to read media reports that the Department of Corrective Services had been given permission to build demountable cell blocks.
It is believed they would be used to house medium-security prisoners and would be used at various jails around the state.
Mr Toole said that every time he bumps into Attorney General Brad Hazzard, he keeps reminding him that Kirkconnell Correctional Centre is just sitting there, having been mothballed after being closed in late 2011.
“I like to let him know that it’s there, and with the number of prisoners in the system going all over the place, it could have the potential to be reinvigorated and play a role in dealing with this issue,” he said.
“It’s just sitting there. It hasn’t been torn down, just mothballed. A lot of fittings have been taken out though.
“However, this could be rectified and I will talk with Mr Hazzard to let him know my feelings. It could help address the situation in the short term and longer term if it’s deemed to be a viable, ongoing operation.”
Mr Toole estimated Kirkconnell could house about 200 prisoners.
According to media reports, Mr Hazzard the government’s decision to close underutilised and inefficient prison stock was offset by building a more efficient maximum security wing at Cessnock Correctional Centre.
Steve McMahon, Public Service Association prison officers’ vocational branch chairman, said yesterday he would love to see Kirkconnell reopened and would back Mr Toole’s push.
“The only problem is its mothballing program hasn’t been that successful,” he said. “We estimate it would cost about $10 million and would take 10 months’ work to get it up and running again.”
