New Wyndham work camp opened

The East Kimberley is set to benefit from a new work camp officially opened this morning in Wyndham by Corrective Services Minister Terry Redman.

The camp gives low-risk, minimum-security prisoners the chance to develop new skills while helping the local community with valuable work such as conservation, maintenance and community projects.

Mr Redman said the $8million facility had been purpose-built and would double the capacity of the existing camp from 20 to 40 beds.

"This really is win-win for the community," he said.

"Since 2002, the work camp has completed about 80,000 hours of work to an estimated value of $1.5million.

"Importantly, the increased capacity of the new camp means twice as many East Kimberley prisoners will be able to be located closer to family and country."

The new work camp has been built on a site adjoining the existing camp. It will operate as a central hub from which prisoners will undertake work in Wyndham and at more remote locations across the East Kimberley.

Work camp projects that have already supported the local community include the manufacture of cane toad traps; tree planting and landscaping in Kununurra; construction of new cattle yards at Home Valley station; and the eradication of non-indigenous vegetation, such as Neem trees.