Werribee youth jail shake-up
THE State Government has slashed the size of Victoria’s new youth justice jail and reversed its decision to shut down the troubled Parkville facility.
The $288 million highsecurity facility in Werribee, which is due to open in 2021, was supposed to include 244 beds for youth offenders.
But in an announcement made quietly on Friday night, the Government revealed the Cherry Creek facility would now only have 140 beds and will be “master planned” to include more if required.
The Government committed to building the new youth jail in 2017 after a spate of shocking incidents at the Parkville and Malmbsury facilities, including riots and escapes.
Premier Daniel Andrews also promised to close Parkville after what he said was a “very damning commentary” in a report by former police chief Neil Comrie. “(It) talks about the fact that if a facility is not secure, then no rehabilitation, no effective programs, can be run in that facility,” Mr Andrews said at the time.
Under the changes, Parkville will now be designed to house female youth offenders and males aged under 15.
Male offenders aged 15 to 18 will be placed at Cherry Creek, and Malmsbury will continue to house males aged 15 to 21.
The Cherry Creek jail — previously described by the government as the “highestsecurity youth justice facility that Victoria has ever seen” — will still include secure accommodation units, an intensive intervention unit and advanced technology to monitor the movement of inmates.
Youth Justice Minister Ben Carroll said the government was “rebuilding Victoria’s youth justice system and ensuring our dedicated staff are working in safe and secure facilities”. A GEELONG team is gearing up to cycle around Port Phillip Bay, with one member in fireretardant work gear, to raise money for young children experiencing hardship.
Leading the Viva Energy team is Adrian Matthews, who will complete the Around the Bay ride in full work uniform, including steel capped boots and helmet, using his 18kg refinery work bike.
He will spend 12 hours pedalling alongside 10,000 cyclists on October 6 in an attempt to collectively raise $600,000 for the Smith Family.
Mr Matthews completed the 135km ride last year and thought it would be fun to tackle the longer event this year.
“So it’s back on the horse to search for that elusive happy place between nausea and angina to make sure I can ride for 12 hours straight,” he said.
“It’s to help families that have fallen on hard times and need a hand to get back up.
“Thanks so much to those that helped me raise $4400 last year — that helped a lot of kids via the Smith Family.”
One of the nine ride options will start in Geelong at Rippleside Park and travel to Melbourne, while thousands of participants riding the full bay loop will travel through Geelong and catch the ferry from Queenscliff to Sorrento.
Mr Mathews said he was aiming to raise $5000 individually this year and hoped people would donate to the worthy cause.
The Smith Family’s Victorian general manager Anton Leschen said the money raised by riders would assist in providing school books, uniforms and shoes, and access to outof-school learning and mentoring programs.
People can make a donation at aroundthebayfundraising. com.au.