Gatton jail timeline: Tripling up fears grow as new 1550-bed jail delayed by months

The opening of a new high-security mega jail at Gatton has been delayed by months triggering calls for a ‘laser focus’ to prevent inmates being tripled up.

Construction work has been delayed for the delivery of a new high-security prison 12km northeast of Gatton, with the 1536-bed centre to be called the Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre. Photo: Corrective Services Queensland.

A new mega jail at Gatton has been delayed by months but the State Government says prisoners should be there by the end of the year.

The 1536-bed Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre will open late after construction company John Holland announced it would open at the “back end of the year”.

The jail was originally set to open in the first half of the year.

The delays follow increased prisoner numbers and concerns raised by officers this year that there could be “tripling up”, or three to a cell, if inmate numbers weren’t properly managed

Together Union assistant state secretary Michael Thomas said officers were looking forward to the opening of the jail.

“It’s opening is going to be really important with dealing with the significant overcrowding in corrections,” he said.

“Anything that can be done to fast track it needs to be done.

“In the meantime there needs to be an absolute laser focus on ensuring prison numbers are managed until the centre opens.”

Queensland Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery Nikki Boyd speaks during Question Time in Parliament House in Brisbane. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

Corrective Services Minister Nikki Boyd on Friday said it was anticipated that the first prisoners would be received into the centre by late 2024.

“The important and intricate work of planning for the rolling commissioning of this 1536 bed high security centre, including recruitment and training of more than 800 permanent, full-time jobs is in full swing, with the first new custodial correctional officers graduating from the paid 10-week training program before Christmas,” she said.

“QCS will continue to plan for and work towards the commissioning of this centre to ensure that it is opened and occupied as quickly as possible, with a focus on safety and security.

“Commissioning is an intricate process to test the infrastructure to ensure it meets safety and security standards to commence the process of accepting prisoners. At this stage it is anticipated prisoners will be received into the centre in late 2024 or early 2025.”

Ms Boyd said corrective services had undertaken contingency planning to manage anticipated prisoner numbers before the jail opened, which included deploying Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre officers to other correctional centres.

“The Queensland Government continues to look at strategies to help manage prisoner numbers to ensure the safety of correctional officers and the community,” she said.