Victoria’s massive new prison is ready for inmates, here’s your look inside the facility

The massive new facility is ready to receive inmates, and transfers will start as early as next week.

Victoria’s new billion dollar maximum security prison is finally complete, and the massive operation to move prisoners into the 1,248 bed facility will start as early as next week.

The final security checks are currently underway at the Western Plains Correctional Centre in Lara – just north of Geelong – with more than 900 prisoners expected to be relocated to the facility by the end of the year.

Staff have already participated in more than 100 emergency response drills to prepare for the influx of prisoners.

An armoured Sherpa vehicle at the entrance. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

A spokeswoman for Corrections Victoria confirmed the transition of prisoners to the new facility would be “gradual” with just small groups being moved at any one time.

“It won’t be a big influx,” she said.

An armoured Sherpa vehicle will be used to transport some of the prisoners.

Testing has been conducted on the facility’s security and barrier control systems which include a AI facial recognition, CCTV and movement system designed to monitor prisoners across the prison.

Victoria’s Minister for Corrections Enver Erdogan said the facility is a modern and secure maximum security prison that should protect the community.

“I thank Corrections Victoria and all the staff who have worked tirelessly to prepare the prison for opening, which will set our corrections system up for the future,” Mr Erdogan said.

Minister for Corrections in Victoria, Enver Erdogan, opens the Western Plains Correctional Centre in Lara Victoria. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

The prison, which is the first new adult prison to open in Victoria in almost a decade, will accommodate prisoners across eight different communities and a 44-bed close supervision unit.

While inside prisoner will be able to partake in work and education opportunities, including food services, frozen food production and metal fabrication.

Outside of one of the cell blocks. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

Prison guards in a training exercise to remove a prisoner from a roof. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

Inside one of the cell blocks. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

The recreation area. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

Training drills were conducted with drug detection dogs and exercises included training on how to remove a prisoner from the roof.

More than 400 officers are now working on the site, with 141 of them being new recruits.

The prison is expected to house notorious bikies, terrorists and mass killers among its new residents.

Originally published as Victoria’s massive new prison is ready for inmates, here’s your look inside the facility