What's happening with $618 million mega-jail in Gatton
THE Lockyer Valley will be first in line to benefit from the new mega-jail being built in Gatton, with hundreds of jobs created.
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THE Lockyer Valley will be first in line to benefit from the new mega-jail being built in Gatton, with hundreds of jobs created.
Corrections minister Mark Ryan hosted an information session yesterday morning in Gatton, speaking to the local business community on the benefits and opportunities the upgrade would present.
The new facility is part of stage two of the Southern Queensland Correction Centre, which currently houses 300 female prisoners, and will deliver about 1000 beds for male prisoners.
Minister Ryan described the opportunities the project would bring to the region as "magnificent", and said businesses across the board would benefit.
"There's a great opportunity coming to the region," Minister Ryan said.
The $618 million project is expected to turn sod next year, and employ 400 workers during the three year construction phase.
Once completed, the centre will create 500 new jobs, and Minister Ryan said this would make Queensland Corrective Services one of the biggest employers in the region.
The centre is planned to be a "unique" Australian first planned prison, featuring infrastructure designed to help treat mental health and substance abuse.
He said the benefits from the job creation would flow through the whole community.
"The economic stimulus will be enormous," he said.
The event was co-hosted by Lockyer Valley Regional Council Mayor Tanya Milligan, who said the project was a win for the region.
"The announcement comes at a time when our community is looking for hope," Cr Milligan said.
She said she would use the multi-million dollar project to advance other interests in the region, including the long requested regional hospital.
Minister Ryan told the gathered crowd at the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre local businesses would receive priority when it came to sourcing supplies and services.
Business will need to register with QTender to considered, and encouraged local companies and trades-people to begin planning how they could be involved.
"The earlier you plan, the earlier you seize that investment opportunity, hopefully the earlier you will receive the benefit," he said.
Originally published as What's happening with $618 million mega-jail in Gatton
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