Relocation of Yatala Labour Prison and Adelaide Women’s Prison would make way for 5000 new homes, Master Builders Association says

Moving two of the state’s major prisons would help to ease the state’s housing crisis by freeing up land for 5000 homes within 10km of the CBD, a construction industry body says.

Up to 5000 new homes would be built within 10km of Adelaide’s CBD under a construction industry plan to relocate Yatala Labour Prison and Adelaide’s Women’s Prison.

The Master Builders Association SA said the current site of the adjoining prisons – a 72-hectare parcel at Northfield in the inner north – has the potential to become “one of Adelaide’s most sought after developments” and improve housing affordability as the city grows.

MBA chief executive Will Frogley said conversion of the land could prove more feasible than the state government’s plan to remediate the salt pans at Dry Creek.

That site has been slated to accommodate 10,000 homes – but concerns have been raised over its suitability.

“We’re not saying it has to be one or the other, and we support the converting the brownfields site at Dry Creek to accommodate housing,” Mr Frogley said.

Yatala Labour Prison is on prime land. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Mariuz

“But there will have to be massive investment per square metre in that site, firstly to remediate the acid sulphate soil, and also to flood proof it. It’s a low lying coastal site and presents a massive engineering challenge.

“It’s worth looking at Yatala as a comparison. It is closer to the city and doesn’t present the same engineering and remediation challenges.”

MBA flagged relocation of the prisons in its submission to the state government’s Greater Adelaide Regional Plan (GARP), which will outline a 30-year vision for the city.

Mr Frogley said no other major Australian city had retained correctional facilities so close to the CBD – but clarified that any move to shut the two prisons would take time and considerable planning.

Existing regional prisons would need to be expanded to accommodate the 576-prisoner capacity of Yatala.

“We’re saying plan now to close it over the next 8-10 years and transition to Mobilong as our major correctional centre,” he said.

He estimated that SA would need to build about 85,000 new homes over the next five years to tackle the housing crisis, with at least 70,000 needed in Greater Adelaide.

Up to 5000 could be constructed on the current site of the prisons through a mix of low, medium and higher density development.

Master Builders Association SA chief executive Will Frogley. Picture: Matt Loxton

Planning Minister Nick Champion. Picture: Matt Loxton

A $180m upgrade at Yatala, which added 270 high-security beds, was completed in mid-2023.

Planning Minister Nick Champion said “there is no immediate plan to transition correctional services from Yatala Labour Prison or the Adelaide Women’s Prison”.

He thanked the Master Builders Association for its submission to the GARP.

“All submissions through the GARP will be carefully assessed as we work towards a 30-year plan for the city,” he said.

“We need to get people thinking how Adelaide could be shaped for future generations, with the need for more housing options at all levels a key priority.”