More flood housing as inmate-built homes installed

The NSW Government has expanded a Corrective Services NSW project to provide urgent relief accommodation to Northern Rivers flood victims, as the first 20 inmate-built demountable homes are installed in Lismore.

Corrective Services Industries at Cessnock and Goulburn will build an additional 60 single module studio units for temporary housing sites in flood affected communities, bringing the total to 100.

Minister for Corrections Geoff Lee welcomed the expansion of the project, which enables inmates to gain valuable trade skills while constructing the homes.

“Corrective Services NSW staff have done a fantastic job of coordinating and facilitating this project while providing inmates with the practical skills and experience to deliver these high-quality housing units,” Mr Lee said.

“I’m pleased they’ve been able to expand the project to provide more vital support to flood victims while continuing to support the rehabilitation of these men in custody.”

The modular housing units are part of a $350 million investment by the NSW Government into temporary housing for flood-affected communities.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the NSW Government is providing a variety of medium-term housing solutions for affected communities.

“It’s important to us that people have a roof over their heads while they tackle the difficult task of rebuilding so we’re continuing to consider all options for providing temporary housing to our flood-affected communities,” Ms Cooke said.

The single-level dwellings were allocated to CSI, from the Department of Education, before being stripped and refitted to include a kitchen, bathroom, laundry and air-conditioning. They can house up to two people.

Corrective Services Commissioner Kevin Corcoran PSM said the success of the project is a reflection on staff at the centres.

“It’s a testament to the can-do attitude of staff and the quality of the programs we run within our Corrective Services Industries that we’ve been able to deliver the homes quickly and to a very impressive quality,” Mr Corcoran said.

CSI is the commercial arm of CSNSW and operates more than 100 business units and service industries teams strategically based across metro and regional centres.