Edmonton is leading as the most preferred site for the new youth jail

A preferred site for a new youth jail in Cairns has been revealed, with Deputy Premier Steven Miles nominating a southside suburb as the likely location.

A preferred site for a new youth jail in Cairns has been revealed, with Deputy Premier Steven Miles nominating a southside suburb as the likely location.

The Deputy Premier on Tuesday announced that Edmonton was currently the most probable answer.

“We’re currently assessing the most appropriate site for a new youth justice facility – that will be a therapeutic-focused facility with programs in partnership with First Nations leaders and elders,” Mr Miles said.

“The leading and preferred site at this stage is in Edmonton, but there are ongoing consultations underway to determine if that will be the final site.

“I understand the final confirmation of where the site will be is considered imminent.”

The announcement of the youth jail has sparked controversy over the past year.

In April, Sisters Inside CEO Debbie Kilroy told councillors to reject the Palaszczuk government’s proposal or risk issues of youth disengagement spiralling further out of control.

The state and federal government has jointly announced additional funding for recycling programs in Far North Queensland local government areas. Deputy Premier of Queensland Steven Miles and Queensland Senator and Special Envoy to the Great Barrier Reef Nita Green make the funding announcement with Cairns Deputy Mayor Terry James at the Cairns Convention Centre. Picture: Brendan Radke

Then a month later, the Cairns Convention Centre hosted the first regional sitting of state parliament in Cairns since 2008, with youth crime on the top of its radar.

At the time Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the facility would “not be a huge detention centre”.

“This is a very modest size we are talking about, around 35 or 40 beds, it will be a therapeutic centre,” she said.

“It will be wraparound services as well, working with the local community and looking very clearly how to get young people engaged with work and also to be closer to home.”

It was in October 2022 that Ms Palaszczuk made the shock announcement $500m was on the table to expand youth detention services and a dedicated facility in Cairns was “under consideration”.

The debate was sparked after Cairns’ youth crime hit an “all time high” in 2022, as tens of millions of dollars worth of cars were ripped off by thieves across Cairns that year.

Police figures for Cairns in the final week of December have tallied 1299 stolen cars for 2022 – up from 782 in 2021.

Break-ins across Cairns have left Cairns residents scared and begging for answers.

Whether it be cars, homes, or businesses, young criminals do not appear to discriminate.

In May this year, police alleged two boys jimmied a window to gain access to Lemoncello’s Cairns before raiding the cash register and handing bottles of top shelf liquor to mates waiting outside.

Two weeks before that incident, a teenage trio from Bentley Park were facing 56 combined charges for multiple offences including theft, drug possession and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

The Cairns Post reported on Tuesday that Ochre Restaurant, situated on the Harbour Lights boardwalk dining strip, had taken to employing security guards after a spate of incidents involving young people and patrons.

The state and federal government has jointly announced additional funding for recycling programs in Far North Queensland local government areas. Deputy Premier of Queensland Steven Miles and Queensland Senator and Special Envoy to the Great Barrier Reef Nita Green make the funding announcement at the Cairns Convention Centre. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Miles confirmed the news about the Edmonton youth detention centre while in Cairns to announce $13.3m for 13 new recycling projects across Queensland, including Atherton, Mareeba and Thursday Island.

The money will be dispersed differently across communities, with councils receiving anywhere between $67,000 to $5m to either revamp current facilities or built new equipment.

Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek said the investment will also create more jobs within these communities.

“We know that boosting recycling isn’t just good for the environment, it’s good for jobs- for every one job in landfill there are three jobs in recycling,” she said.

Originally published as Edmonton is leading as the most preferred site for the new youth jail