Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley pushes for cooling systems in Alice Springs prison

For two decades prisoners have complained about being locked in ‘an oven’. Now, the Territory’s Corrections Commissioner has committed to cooling down Alice Springs prison.

Prisoners have previously told the NT Ombudsman that the besser block cells can “become like an oven” after weeks of 40-plus degree days.

The Territory’s prison boss has committed to addressing scorching conditions inside the “concrete bunkers” of a desert prison.

Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley said a 12-month study on how to cool down Alice Springs Correctional Centre had been completed – following two decades of complaints about extreme heat inside the prison.

Mr Varley said the environmental architectural study looked at how to adapt the 30-year-old “concrete bunkers” to provide better ventilation and cooling in a region where temperatures reached highs of 45C and lows of -7.5C in 2023.

Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley said a 12-month study on how to cool down Alice Springs Correctional Centre had been completed. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Varley said the extreme temperatures in the remote prison were well known, with NT Ombudsman reports repeatedly highlighting heat stress concerns.

In 2004 prisoners complained that temperatures reached between 45-55C, with Territorians forced to sleep in wet towels on the floor to escape the radiating heat.

At the time, the watchdog was told that the Superintendent had applied for airconditioning, “but that this may not be installed for a couple of years due to shortage of funds”.

Twenty years later, Mr Varley said a range of comprehensive cooling proposals would be sent to the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics.

“For me, it’s not about catch-up. It’s about making sure what I’ve got is fit for purpose and is right for the future,” he said.

In 2004 Alice Springs prisoners complained that temperatures reached between 45-55C, with Territorians forced to sleep in wet towels on the floor to escape the radiating heat.

Mr Varley said he hoped for to begin construction on an approved cooling systems this year.

However, the Corrections boss appeared to back away from committing to the Ombudsman’s recommendation for airconditioning.

Mr Varley said since all the facilities had air vents through them, installing “refrigerated airconditioning” would require everything to be blocked off.

He said other proposals could include insulation to reduce heat penetration, better ventilation and evaporative cooling.

“All of that has to be designed and mapped and installed into an existing concrete building,” he said.

“That’s not easy, and it’s complicated and it’s costly.”

Corrections Commissioner Matthew Varley said there were already fortnightly heat mitigation group meetings at Alice Springs.

The Corrections boss pointed out that Holtze facilities were also not airconditioned, but due to better environmental designs the Darwin prison did not suffer the extreme conditions like Alice Springs.

Mr Varley said there were already fortnightly heat mitigation group meetings at Alice Springs, with prisoners provided with cooling options like ice, water and oscillating fans.

However, Mr Varley rejected that the “bunkers” were acting as a “concentrated hot box” or that heat stress contributed to the recent riot or failed escape attempt.

He said data from Christmas recorded cell temperatures of up to 29.5C at night and 33C during the following day.

“It’s not much different to, and not less than the ambient temperature (outside),” he said.

“Most of the prisoners are actually quite happy to stay inside because it’s hotter outside than it is in.”

Mr Varley said plans had been approved to replace the shower and ablution blocks “for hygiene and security”. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Prisoners have previously told the NT Ombudsman that the besser block cells can “become like an oven” after weeks of 40-plus degree days.

In 2019 one Territorian said they fainted and “had a fit” due to the heat at night.

Prisoners have also suffered from the extreme cold, with the watchdog told that the stench of body odour became unbearable in the winter of 2019, as men could not shower due to a lack of hot water.

“Corrections confirm that this occurs on a yearly basis and always around winter time,” the 2018-19 annual report said.

Mr Varley said plans had been approved to replace the shower and ablution blocks “for hygiene and security”, and plans to expand and retrofit the correctional officer’s station.