THE Baillieu government has announced the expansion of the Ararat Prison.
Corrections Minister Andrew McIntosh said the 54-bed expansion would add up to 90 new jobs to the local economy.
The $17 million project will create about 70 jobs in the construction phase, and another 20 permanent positions once the new facility is operating.
A large upgrade to Ararat Prison is also one of the government’s five prison projects now under way.
Once complete, an extra 350 beds will be available at the site.
“The Coalition government promised Victorians a new era in community safety and crime prevention,” Mr McIntosh said.
“I am extremely pleased that in delivering this prison expansion we are also creating a substantial number of new jobs to communities across Victoria.”
Further construction at Langi Kal Kal, to be completed next year, will include the addition of a new administration building and prison medical centre.
The government says an extra 85 beds at Port Phillip Prison, 84 beds at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and 54 beds at Dhurringile Prison are all part of the Victorian upgrade.
The five projects are expected to provide 690 construction jobs, and to support 288 ongoing staff jobs once the facilities are open.
The government also says future projects will deliver a further 392 new prison beds before the next election.
“Victoria’s prisons are often the largest employers in their communities, especially in regional areas,” Mr McIntosh said.
“We are proud of what we provide to those communities, and enormously grateful for the part they play in the way our system runs.”
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