The WA Government today announced $120 million in capital investment to increase custodial capacity in the male prison estate.
An additional 672 beds will be added to the estate by the end of 2019, helping address the chronic issue of prison overcrowding that was inherited by the McGowan Labor Government.
The prisoner population has grown by about 10 per cent per annum in the past two years, placing significant pressure on the State’s custodial capacity.
The Government’s investment will deliver four new units at Casuarina Prison to accommodate 512 prisoners ($96.3 million), increasing the prison’s capacity to more than 1,500 making it the State’s biggest prison.
An additional 160 beds will be added at Bunbury Regional Prison ($23.7 million).
The capacity expansion means the estate can be managed safely and securely for prisoners and prison staff, and includes essential upgrades to kitchens, laundries and video-court facilities.
The upgrade and expansion of Bunbury Regional Prison will be funded from Royalties for Regions as a high-priority infrastructure project.
The investment is on top of $636 million in South-West capital projects announced in the 2017-18 State Budget to create jobs and boost the local Bunbury economy.
Both projects will create significant opportunities for local businesses in line with the Government’s commitment to local jobs and local content. The construction is expected to generate up to 1,000 jobs over the next two years, with the projects to begin early in the new year.