Government delivers new Eastern Goldfields prison

The Liberal-National Government's tough stance on law and order has received a boost with the announcement of a much-needed 350-bed prison for the Eastern Goldfields.

The multi-million dollar project is part of the State Government's $655million custodial infrastructure program - the most significant prison program in Western Australia's history.

The custodial infrastructure program will create 1,657 new prisoner beds, with significant proportion of these scheduled for completion by the end of 2011. The result will be an intended net gain of more than 1,500 beds in the system.

Corrective Services Minister Christian Porter said the Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison would provide a replacement for the existing significantly overcrowded Goldfields prison, which was in poor condition.

"The new prison, which represents a substantial regional investment, will be a modern, mixed gender, all security facility designed to keep Goldfields offenders close to their communities," Mr Porter said.

"It will provide a net extra 250 beds in the Goldfields region and improve the overall level of custodial services, highlighting this Government's support for regional communities.

"Importantly, it will be designed to engage indigenous prisoners in culturally-appropriate programs and courses and, for the first time in the region, address female prisoners' needs."

The Minister said he anticipated completion of the prison by the end of 2013.

"We need to act to ease the critical overcrowding within the WA prison system - an unfortunate legacy of the previous Labor government - and to address the growing need for secure prisoner accommodation in the area," he said.

"Overall the Liberal-National Government will have increased the State's prison capacity by 40 per cent.

"The new facilities clearly demonstrate how this State Government plans to address the conditions and overcrowding in WA prisons and will provide, during the construction phase, significant boost to regional employment

WA Budget statements are available at http://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au/