Prison upgrade major boost for the Dubbo region

Last published on 01 Oct 2021 

The NSW Government is overseeing a $38 million refurbishment project in the greater Dubbo region, tasking local contractors with repairing Wellington Correctional Centre after it was damaged in Western NSW’s mice plague earlier this year.

Minister for Counter Terrorism and Corrections Anthony Roberts said one of the project’s main priorities was to ensure the upgrade focused on providing employment opportunities for the local community.

“Corrective Services NSW is a proud employer in the region so it’s a fantastic result to be able to engage local contractors and suppliers for the project,” he said.

“$38 million is being injected back into the community by hiring locally and giving something back to a region that has long supported us.”

A Dubbo-based contractor will oversee the complex task of refurbishing the centre, after damage was caused by mice chewing through internal wiring and destroying ceiling and wall panels.

Corrective Services NSW Acting Commissioner Kevin Corcoran PSM said 11 priority areas had been targeted for works – including the gate and control room, which houses the main security system – as well as the main administration area.

A major refurbishment to the Corrective Services Industries area, including the bakery, will also be prioritised, as well as accommodation areas to improve living standards for inmates.

“We’re not only repairing damage and reinforcing the perimeter of the complex as the first line of defence against future plagues, we’re actively improving existing infrastructure to better help us work towards our goal of reducing reoffending,” Mr Corcoran said.

“We are also looking at this situation as an opportunity to invest into our staff as well by providing them opportunities to work in other locations or complete additional training.”

The work at Wellington Correctional Centre is expected to be finished early next year.

In June, CSNSW oversaw the successful relocation of up to 200 staff and 420 inmates to other prisons due to the ongoing effects of the mouse plague.