Government scraps plan to reopen Parramatta jail

EXCLUSIVE: In a dramatic U-turn prisons minister David Elliott has scrapped a plan to reopen Parramatta jail, deeming it too expensive.

The old Parramatta jail. Picture: Adam Taylor

• Walls that have seen it all
• The inmate who tried to break back in

PARRAMATTA jail will not reopen after Corrections Minister David Elliott withdrew his proposal this morning.

The State Government was considering reopening the colonial site to lift pressure from the state’s overcrowded prisons.

Mr Elliott told The Parramatta Advertiser he decided against reopening the jail, which closed in 2011.

Minister for Corrections David Elliott won’t reopen Parramatta jail. Pic John Grainger

“I can’t reconcile myself spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars reopening the jail, with all the development happening in the area such as the Powerhouse, the light rail, Westmead and the development in the CBD,” he said.

It is estimated a refurbishment of the colonial site would cost more than $10 million.

If the prison was reopened, it would sit side by side UrbanGrowth NSW’s $2 billion residential and commercial development in North Parramatta.

Deerubbin Aboriginal Land Council was granted ownership of the site from the government in 2014, after a two-year land-claim dispute. The government would have to lease it back from the land council if it was to reopen.

Parramatta jail after it was closed. Photos: Chris McKeen

6 Wing inside the jail. Photo: Bob Barker.

Inside Parramatta prison. Photo: Bob Barker.

Parramatta state Liberal MP Geoff Lee said he was pleased the jail would not open.

“I think it’s a big win for the community and for the heritage precinct. Despite the prison overcrowding concerns, it would place a serious impediment on the North Parramatta heritage precinct,” Mr Lee said.

“Thanks to the minister and the Premier for the understanding the national significance and heritage of the precinct,” he said.

Now Parramatta is off the table, the government will now have to consider how it will deal with large prisoner numbers.

It could look at fitting in more inmates by putting three people in one cell or look at what space other jails have available for extra beds.

Police at the jail in 1989, investigating the escape of inmate Larry Foley.

Criminal Arthur “Neddy” Smith was an inmate at Parramatta.

Inside Parramatta Gaol. Photo: Bob Barker.

6 Wing. Inside Parramatta Gaol. Photo: Bob Barker.