Claim of Westbury prison blowout

RESIDENTS have claimed development costs could blow out as the Department of Justice tries to “retro fit” its proposed Northern Regional Prison to an “ill-conceived” site following a meeting with Department of Justice representatives last week.

Concerned Residents Opposed to the Westbury Prison Site (CROWPS) spokesman Aaron Reader said what was revealed at the meeting contradicted the Premier’s claims that the site was ideal.

“The department has revealed that there are many serious, complicated issues with the new proposed site – which will demand extra expenditure and unforeseen costs to complete the project,” he said.

“Many of the complexities around the new proposed site stem from the fact that it is hilly and, in places, solid rock, despite Minister (Elise) Archer claiming that one of the primary factors in choosing the first site was because it was ‘nice and flat’.”

Mr Reader said the government remained under a false impression there was electrical infrastructure running past the 70ha crown bushland site at Brushy Rivulet.

A Department of Justice spokesman said the government had indicated upfront that the crown land site may require services and the required work was still being investigated.

The spokesman said initial due diligence was undertaken in July and further work was now being conducted as part of the long-term planning process. He said planning for the project was still in the early stages and the final cost was yet to be determined.