Department of Corrective Services

Public briefing sessions will be held in Derby and Broome in February, to keep the community up to date with the latest developments on the West Kimberley Regional Prison project.

The information sessions will be held at:

• Derby - Derby Youth Centre (Activities Room), 10 February at 5.00pm
• Broome -  Mangrove Hotel, 11 February at 5.30pm

Senior representatives from the Department of Corrective Services, the Department of Housing and Works and the project architects will be at these sessions to answer questions about the new prison. They will also let the community know how it can continue to be informed and involved during the planning and building of the prison.

Design drawings and model displays of the project will be on show and questions from the community are encouraged.

The $150 million prison facility will be the first in Australia specifically aimed at meeting the social and cultural needs of Aboriginal offenders and their families. It will be a secure, modern complex housing up to 150 inmates, with separate areas for men and women, and designed in accordance with strict environmental and sustainability principles. 

One aim of the project is to employ Aboriginal people in 50% of staff positions.  A recruitment strategy and training program is being developed.

Approximately 70 new houses will be built in Derby for staff to live in and about $10million in economic activity is expected to be generated locally each year.

The project is being developed in partnership with the community to ensure local people provide input that will be instrumental in advising on work, training and educational programs geared at improving Aboriginal wellness, teaching life skills and reducing the high rate of repeat offenders.

For more information contact Project Coordinator Tillie Prowse on (08) 9264 1005 or email RCSP@correctiveservices.wa.gov.au

Green light for new West Kimberley Prison Project

The State Government has approved $150 million to build a new prison in the West Kimberley, to be located 6 km from Derby.  The development is part of a far-reaching plan to extend correctional services in the region and is designed to help ease a critical shortage of prisoner accommodation.

The prison will focus on reducing repeat offending in the Kimberley by:

• Building a facility to keep prisoners closer to their families and country
• Providing culturally appropriate programs and services, and
• Linking the prison with the community, service providers, local businesses and industry.

Land acquisition and approvals have been finalised and the facility will be built on an 18 ha site, south of the Gibb River Road and Derby Highway intersection. Advanced technology will be incorporated to maintain security standards while minimising the amount of vegetation that needs to be cleared.

A three-year construction program will begin with a package of preliminary works, including access roads, earthworks, civil foundations and in-ground services. Contracts for these forward works are expected to be advertised in late April or early May 2009.

The main building phase is scheduled to start in 2010 and will be managed by the Department of Housing and Works on behalf of the Department of Corrective Services.

The story so far:

For more information or to join the project mailing list:

• Contact the DCS Project Coordinator Tillie Prowse on (08) 9264 1005
• Visit the Department’s Derby office in West Kimberley House, Derby, or
• Email rcsp@correctiveservices.wa.gov.au.

Derby Community Reference Group

The Derby Community Reference Group held its first meeting in April 2008 and represents a partnership between the Department’s West Kimberley Regional Prison Project team and the local community. 

The group has been set up to make sure the Derby community is continuously informed about the prison project and to help identify any areas of concern and, to work on possible solutions. A key goal is to work together to address any social impacts associated with the development and to pinpoint employment and rehabilitation opportunities for prisoners.

The DCRG operates in accordance with its Terms of Reference and includes representatives from local businesses, community organisations and government agencies including:

Elsia Archer, Shire President Derby/West Kimberley (Chairperson)
Beth Hales, Community Representative
James Gorey, Community Representative
Harry Lennard, Traditional Owner
Lucy Marshall, Traditional Owner
Sharon Gavranich, Community Health
Douglas Clements, Indigenous Coordination Centre
Andrea D’Antoine, Department of Child Protection
Patricia McKenzie, Department of Housing and Works
John Silver, Derby/West Kimberley Chamber of Commerce
Liz Kelly, Aboriginal Justice Agreement
Sgt Mike Wells, WA Police (Derby)
Brian Burough, TAFE (Derby)

Talking to a member of the group is one way Derby people can have their say about the project. Meetings are held every month in Derby.  

For more information about the group, contact the Department of Corrective Services Project Manager Kati Kraszlan on (08) 9264 1497, visit the Department’s Derby office in West Kimberley House or email rcsp@correctiveservices.wa.gov.au.

KimberleyCultural Advisory Group

Fifteen prominent Aboriginal representatives from across the Kimberley have been selected to provide advice on cultural and community issues on the new West Kimberley Regional Prison Project.

The KCAG will meet for the first time on 11 February 2009 and then meet every three months to advise on prison layout and facilities. The group will identify programs and services needed to help Aboriginal people stay out of prison and keep the Aboriginal community and Department informed about any issues of interest or concern.

Members of the KCAG include:
Di Appleby and Brian Lee, from Broome
Harry Lennard, Joy Mowlumbum and Peter Gargenling, from Derby
Gail Smiler and Michelle Kwilla, from Fitzroy Crossing
Josie Farrier and Stuart Morton, from Halls Creek
Carol Gore-Birch and Reginald Birch, from Wyndham
Margaret Moore and David Newry, from Kununurra
Peter Francis and Anthony Watson from the Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre (KALACC)

For more information on the cultural group, contact the Department of Corrective Services Project Manager Kati Kraszlan on (08) 9264 1497, visit the Department’s Derby office in West Kimberley House or email rcsp@correctiveservices.wa.gov.au.