A MASSIVE medium-security prison in Ravenhall is closer to being built after the state government called for expressions of interest from private businesses.
The 500-bed prison was announced in last year’s state budget and will be built next to the Metropolitan Remand Centre.
The government has not revealed how much the prison will cost.
Corrections Minister Edward O’Donohue said the state-of-the-art corrections facility would do more than add capacity to the existing system.
“This development will also include 75 mental health beds and capacity for ongoing treatment for another 100 mainstream prisoners.
“The Ravenhall project will focus heavily on innovative programs to help reduce reoffending.”
Mr O’Donohue said the private sector would be responsible for building, financing, maintaining and operating the new prison as part of a public-private partnership, with the prison to be built on a large footprint to allow future expansion.
Visiting the site last week, Premier Denis Napthine said the prison would create hundreds of new jobs during construction and through ongoing operation.
But opposition corrections spokeswoman and Altona MP Jill Hennessy said the western suburbs needed investment in schools, roads and hospital beds – not a third prison. “The government is pretty enthusiastic to build prison beds in the west when we desperately need more hospital beds.”
The government has set up a community advisory group to allow nearby residents and communities to have their say on the development.
