Inmates on mattresses

Risdon squeeze ‘ highlights need for new prison’

MAXIMUM security prisoners are being held in Risdon Prison’s Apsley Centre because of overcrowding and the residential drug and alcohol treatment program usually run from that facility is on hold.

Tasmania’s only adult jail is now home to 654 prisoners, 140 more than six years ago.

And across the facility, 11 prisoners are sleeping on mattresses on the floor.

Corrections Minister

Elise

Archer told a budget estimates hearing on Wednesday the 10bed Apsley Centre was home to 18 maximum security prisoners.

Ms Archer said the accommodation squeeze — particularly in maximum security where occupancy is at 120 per cent — highlighted the need to build a new prison near Westbury.

“There are certainly pressures in maximum security. The current facility is just not big enough and there are now more maximum security classified prisoners now than in the past.

“The situation highlights the need for a new Northern Regional Prison.”

The prisoners who were taking part in the Apsley Unit drug and alcohol program had been receiving one- on- one treatment but the residential program was on hold. The Tasmanian Prison Service is exploring whether the vacant Division 8 complex can be used as a live- in therapy unit.

Meanwhile, the community group against the building of the new prison on a crown land reserve near Westbury said reports the environmental consultant hired by the government to work on the project had stepped down could be a “game changer”.

Westbury Residents Against the Prison said Mark Wapstra, of Ecotas, was no longer acting as the government’s environmental consultant for the prison project.

“The resignation of the government’s environmental consultant is nothing short of game- changing,” WRAP vicepresident Linda Poulton said.

“In a recent letter received from the federal Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, a senior bureaucrat advised me the Australian government is waiting for advice from the Tasmanian government as to how the Department of Justice intends to protect the environmental values ... if the prison is placed there.”

A Department of Justice spokesman said a new consultant would be engaged soon.