Rocherlea property was offered prison development: Govt ‘should have reconsidered the options’

A Rocherlea land owner says his 100ha property was offered for the Northern Prison development and the government should have reconsidered all its options before settling for its current site. See the government’s response >>

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A ROCHERLEA land owner says his 100ha property should have been considered for the Government’s Northern Regional Prison development before the contentious Brushy Rivulet site was selected.

Environmental officer and former park ranger Andrew Nowakowski offered his land to the government for the 275 bed prison development in January, but was told he missed the expressions of interest deadline.

However, the government abandoned its preferred prison site at Westbury in June and selected a 70ha parcel of Crown land at Brushy Rivulet, 5km from Westbury, which had not been part of the EOI.

The Brushy Rivulet lot was purchased from a private owner in 1999 to be entered into the CAR reserve system and protected due to threatened plant and animal species being detected.

Corrections minister Elise Archer has said the site had not been maintained and no longer held the conservation values it was purchased for, but has faced fierce opposition from residents and environmentalists who say the threatened and endangered species remain.

Corrections minister Elise Archer announces the government's new intended site for a Northern Regional Prison development. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Mr Nowakowski said his land was just as appropriate for consideration as any other site.

“They really should have gone back and reconsidered all the other [options] that were offered to them,” he said.

Mr Nowakowski said his property at 278 Lilydale Rd backed onto forestry land and was in a valley, so was not visible to any communities.

He said there were roads into his forest block and some, flat, clear areas, making it easy enough for clearing and development.

“There are only two properties beside it and none of them have any houses on them.

“The nearest houses are a good 1.5km away.”

Mr Nowakoski said power, sewage and roads would need to be connected, but the needs were similar to the current Brushy Rivulet site.

A map of the Government's preferred Northern Regional Prison site has caused concern among residents in the area. Picture: SUPPLIED

Ms Archer confirmed the property had been offered up, but missed the EOI deadline.

“A further formal Expression of Interest process was not undertaken when the Crown Land site was selected following the extensive consultation process on the initial preferred site,” she said.

“The Government is committed to building the Northern Regional Prison on the current Crown Land site.

“Work has progressed to undertake due diligence investigations on that site to ensure this important infrastructure project proceeds in a timely manner.”

Community group Concerned Residents Opposed to the Westbury Prison Site (CROWPS) on Friday called on Premier Peter Gutwein to keep his National Threatened Species Day promise to protect threatened species and walk away from the Brushy Rivulet site.