Locals raise concerns over proposed site for new northern prison at Westbury

Local opposition is mounting over the chosen location for a new prison in the state’s north, with residents saying they have been left “pretty well in the dark about” the proposal.

The proposed site of the northern prison at Birralee Road, Westbury. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

TALK of the need for a prison in Tasmania’s North has gone on for years, but the fringe of a tourist village is not the place for it, say upset residents and business owners.

Corrections Minister Elise Archer last month announced that Westbury was the Government’s preferred location for a new $270 million prison, much to the shock of unsuspecting residents.

An artist impression was released showing the planned maximum security facility beside Birralee Rd, just off the Bass Highway and about 2km out of town.

The prison was part of a $350 million election promise to ease pressure on the state’s ageing prison infrastructure after reports of dangerous overcrowding and understaffing.

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Eve Robson, the co-owner of local business Love Antiques, told the Mercury she was shocked when she heard Westbury had been chosen from 10 prospective locations.

“We can’t understand how you would want to put a maximum-security prison near a small, beautiful village,” she said.

She said she did not believe locals would win jobs during the construction stage and only the town’s takeaway shops would benefit from the 250 staff expected to be employed long-term.

Mrs Robson said the stigma attached to the jail would harm the town’s tourism economy.

“I really think that that prison would kill this town.”

She said she had seen property prices plummet and the atmosphere of towns change once prisons were built when she lived in New South Wales.

Residents Josh Baker and his sons Hamish, 1, and Hunter, 8, with the proposed site of the Northern prison at Birralee Road, Westbury in the background. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

The department of Justice held its first community consultation meeting in Westbury on Thursday.

“We turned up as one big group. We’ve had petitions going and we’re going to fight it with everything we’ve got,” Mrs Robson said.

Josh Baker lives with his three young sons, father and partner at his father’s property, which adjoins the proposed prison site.

He fears if all goes as planned, their current view of grass and trees from the peaceful 89ha property will be replaced by 6m concrete walls, which will be lit up externally at night.

“I think that’s one of the big things with dad,” he said.

Mr Baker said the safety of his sons, potential property price drops and how the area might change were all things concerning him and his father.

“We’re pretty well in the dark about it. We had heard rumours around the town and that, and then basically the news turned up here and then that was the day they announced it and then they put a letter in [dad’s] mail.”

Ms Archer said Thursday’s drop-in session provided residents and business owners the opportunity to seek information about the project and put forward their views.

“We fully recognise the announcement of the preferred site near the industrial precinct has raised questions in the community and we want to work with the community to answer them,’’ she said.

“Those attending the drop-in sessions have been receiving one-on-one sessions with members of the new prison’s project team.”

Meander Valley Mayor Wayne Johnston. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

The sessions will be held weekly in Westbury with the next scheduled from noon until 7pm next Friday.

Ms Archer said with almost half the current prison population being from the North and North-West, families and support networks had to travel long distances to visit them in the South and many were not able to do so regularly.

Meander Valley Mayor Wayne Johnston said the council was as much in the dark around the prison proposal as residents.

“There seems to be a perception by some in the community that council are withholding information. We’re certainly not,” he said.

“But having said that, there are commercial and confidence issues with the State Government dealing with private landowners and we weren’t privy to those negotiations.

“We are hoping to see a lot more detail in the near future.

“For the people that live in that vicinity, to all of a sudden have a prison potentially be built there, is certainly distressing for some people.”

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