Halikos given $55 million tender to build new youth prison despite its own initial objection to project

HALIKOS Group has won the $55 million tender to build a new youth prison, the same company that objected to the facility being built on its original location next to a Halikos housing development

The purpose-built Darwin youth detention facility will replace the Don Dale Youth Detention centre. Picture: Glenn Campbell

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CONSTRUCTION of a new purpose-built youth detention facility in Darwin and refurbishments of the Alice Springs Youth Detention Centre will begin this month, with tenders for each project announced.

Local construction company Halikos has been awarded the $55.1 million tender for the new Darwin facility.

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The facility was originally proposed to be built next to the Halikos Group’s North Crest development in Berrimah in 2018 but Halikos lodged a legal objection preventing the site from being used.

It will now be built on a greenfield site in Holtze close to police, health and emergency services, with the project expected to be completed by mid 2022.

The $13.1 million tender for the Alice Springs centre has been awarded to Asbuild NT with the Darwin and Alice Springs projects to create 350 and 69 jobs respectively.

Territory Families Minister Dale Wakefield said the projects would benefit both inmates and those involved with the construction phase.

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“Once completed, the centres will be places that give young offenders the best chance to turn their lives around and stop offending,” she said.

“Our tradies now have a massive pipeline of work through our various stimulus programs, and these additional construction projects will further boost the economy.”