State Budget 2018: Funding allocated for new police stations and northern prison

THE State Government will spend $20.6 million on law and order infrastructure across the state in 2018-19 to ensure criminals remain behind bars.

$10 million has been allocated towards a new $70 million Southern Remand Centre at Risdon Prison. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

THE Tasmanian Government will spend $20.6 million on law and order infrastructure across the state in 2018-19 to ensure criminals remain behind bars.

Projects slated for funding in the next financial year include $10 million towards a new Southern Remand Centre at Risdon Prison, $2.5 million for a new police station at New Norfolk and $2 million for a Longford Police Station.

The State Budget also allocates $45 million to stage one of the new northern prison.

Stage one is costed at $150 million over five years.

The 270-bed prison will be built in two stages, with construction expected to begin on stage 1 next financial year.

Corrections Minister Elise Archer said the $70 million new remand facility at the Risdon Prison site would have the capacity for at least 70 remandees.

“This represents a significant capital outlay that will house a growing cohort in most Australian jurisdictions,” she said.

“Prison populations have grown throughout Australia and Tasmania has not been immune to this trend.”

The State Government will also spend $7.3 million over three years for a major redesign and upgrade of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre as part of a statewide therapeutic youth justice model.

While $9.3 million is assigned for the upgrade of the Ridson Prison Shared Facilities to meet growing demands, funding isn’t budgeted until 2021-22.

The growing populations of Longford and New Norfolk have forced the Government to invest $10 million to build two new police stations in those areas.

“In regional areas, police stations are particularly important and help build a positive working relationship between police and the community they serve and the new stations will be a contemporary, well-equipped base for policing activities,” Police Minister Michael Ferguson said.

Mr Ferguson said the Government had committed to its election promise to recruit 125 additional police officers.

“The majority of the new police officers will be deployed to frontline duties at first-response main police stations and in regional and rural stations around the state to complement existing establishment levels,” Mr Ferguson said.

“This investment will include resourcing specialist crystal methamphetamine investigators to provide a specific focus on ice-related drug activity.

“A further $5 million is provided to continue to upgrade police housing statewide to provide police officers with suitable secure and contemporary accommodation in regional and remote areas.”