REVEALED: What's happening with $618m mega-jail expansion

The minister has revealed latest on the construction of second stage of the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre

OPPORTUNITIES: Minister for Corrective Services Mark Ryan, with Spanos IGA store manager Jason Raynor and Lockyer Valley Regional Council mayor Tanya Milligan at the announcement of $620 million for the second stage of the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre last month. Picture: ALI KUCHEL

LOCKYER Valley business will be first in line to benefit from stage two of the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre.

Corrections minister Mark Ryan hosted an information session this morning in Gatton, speaking to the local business community on the benefits and opportunities the upgrade would be present.

The new facility is part of stage two of the Southern Queensland Correction Centre, which currently houses 300 female prisoners, and will deliver about 1000 beds for male prisoners.

Minister Ryan described the opportunities the project would bring to the region as "magnificent", and said businesses across the board would benefit.

"There's a great opportunity coming to the region," Minister Ryan said.

The $618 million project was expected to turn sod next year, and employ 400 workers during the three year construction phase.

Once completed, the centre would create 500 new jobs, and Minister Ryan said this would make Queensland Corrective Services one of the biggest employers in the region.

The centre is planned to be a "unique" Australian first planned prison, featuring infrastructure designed to help treat mental health and substance abuse.

He said the benefits from the job creation would flow through the whole community.

"The economic stimulus will be enormous," he said.

Minister Ryan addresses members of the Lockyer Valley business community at an info session on stage 2 of the Southern Queensalnd Correctional Facility this morning. Picture: Dominic Elsome

The event was co-hosted by Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Tanya Milligan, who said the project was a win for the region.

"The announcement comes at a time when our community is looking for hope," Cr Milligan said.

She said she would use the multi-million dollar project to advance other interests in the region, including the long requested regional hospital.

Minister Ryan told the gathered crowd at the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre local businesses would receive priority when it came to sourcing supplies and services.

Business will need to register with QTender to considered, and encouraged local companies and trades-people to begin planning how they could be involved.

"The earlier you plan, the earlier you seize that investment opportunity, hopefully the earlier you will receive the benefit," he said.