Caloundra watch house: Lawyer proposed Woodford as site of new youth jail

A criminal defence and litigation lawyer has questioned the plans to transition the Caloundra watch house into a youth detention centre.

A criminal defence and litigation lawyer has suggested Woodford as an alternate site for a new youth jail, fearing the effects on the Caloundra courthouse and potential risk to the public.

Caloundra-based Ferrall and Co Lawyers legal practitioner and director Rowena Ferrall made a submission recently about the proposed changes which had sparked outcry from some members of the public.

The Caloundra watch house was due to be transformed into a youth jail with $5m included in this year’s state budget as part of the $16.4m plan to transition the facility into a youth remand centre.

Public consultation was currently underway on the proposal.

Ms Ferrall said the recent appointment of a full-time magistrate to Caloundra had been welcomed by local lawyers who had expected the watch house to be put to use and sitting days in Caloundra expanded to ease pressure on the Maroochydore watch house and Magistrates Court.

Ferrall and Co Lawyers legal practitioner and director Rowena Ferrall.

She said the loss of the Caloundra watch house could potentially have a “devastating effect on the functionality of the courthouse”.

Ms Ferrall questioned whether the secure access from the courtroom to the watch house would be lost as a result of the change and if so she said the only options would be to transfer incarcerated offenders through the courthouse public waiting room or transfer matters to Maroochydore.

Ms Ferrall said it seemed “not only unpalatable, but completely unsafe” to have jailed offenders transferred past the public and said the Caloundra courthouse would lose its ability to be a fully functioning facility without the ability to incarcerate offenders.

She questioned whether it would be appropriate for police prosecutors to be based in a courthouse or police station and suggested the growing population in Caloundra only increased the need for a fully-functioning facility.

Ms Ferrall suggested the Woodford Correctional Facility as an alternate site for a new youth detention facility, as it had a large land parcel nearby with infrastructure in place, among other reasons.

Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard recently said the new youth remand facility in Caloundra would only be used for short periods.

A stoush recently erupted between Sunshine Coast MPs over where the transition plan for the facility originated.

Ms Linard said recently the building had been able to house adults and youths since it was opened and the change meant it would only be used for young people.

A consultation period was underway at present to advise residents of the proposal and explain the changes, which Caloundra MP Jason Hunt recently explained would be minimal, given the facility’s current use.