Canberra's empty jail 'clogging up the system'

henners · 03-05-2009, 03:05 AM

Hello all. Not one to be a sensationalist or to make something out of nothing, but perhaps it may be something. This news article just came to my attention. Regarding a new jail to be opened in our capital Camberra. Apparantly they are having problems with the security system. I'll let you read the story.

"THE lights are on but there's nobody home at Australia's newest jail with no prisoners.

Likened to a luxury resort by critics, the $130 million low-security jail has been opened for about 175 days and is costing thousands of dollars a day to run, despite having no inmates because of a bungled security system.

With prisons overflowing across Australia, especially in NSW regional areas, the Alexander McConachie Centre in Canberra has been labelled a "disgrace" because electricity and resources are being wasted.

Justice Action spokesman Brett Collins said yesterday it was disgusting there were 150 ACT prisoners being held in NSW jails waiting to go there.

"There are now 300 sparkling new cells waiting for prisoners - it's an empty jail at the moment," he said.

"It's clogging up the prison system."

The delay is also causing overcrowding in the ACT's remand centres and contractor Bovis Lend Lease is apparently paying $44,000 a day in compensation to the ACT Government for the delay.

Corrective Services documents show that there were 1200 defects with the jail's security system last November and six were classified as "show stoppers".

There are claims the new jail will not be ready to accept prisoners until December.

ACT Opposition corrections spokesman Jeremy Hanson criticised the Government for the ongoing delays."

Is this one of Australias Fema camps.

See what i mean. Even i am being a little paranoid.

Henry

Dantheman62 · 03-05-2009, 03:20 AM

I wouldn't jump to conclusions just yet, I've been in construction for about 15 years and have seen huge delays for what I call stupid reasons. Although a security system in a jail is pretty important! LOL! You would think there would be penalties of some kind for the security system company to not finish on time and in working order. Or they should've voided their contract due to incompetence and hired somebody else! hmmm

03-05-2009, 03:05 AM	#1
henners Project Avalon Researcher Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 432	Canberra's empty jail 'clogging up the system' Hello all. Not one to be a sensationalist or to make something out of nothing, but perhaps it may be something. This news article just came to my attention. Regarding a new jail to be opened in our capital Camberra. Apparantly they are having problems with the security system. I'll let you read the story. "THE lights are on but there's nobody home at Australia's newest jail with no prisoners. Likened to a luxury resort by critics, the $130 million low-security jail has been opened for about 175 days and is costing thousands of dollars a day to run, despite having no inmates because of a bungled security system. With prisons overflowing across Australia, especially in NSW regional areas, the Alexander McConachie Centre in Canberra has been labelled a "disgrace" because electricity and resources are being wasted. Justice Action spokesman Brett Collins said yesterday it was disgusting there were 150 ACT prisoners being held in NSW jails waiting to go there. "There are now 300 sparkling new cells waiting for prisoners - it's an empty jail at the moment," he said. "It's clogging up the prison system." The delay is also causing overcrowding in the ACT's remand centres and contractor Bovis Lend Lease is apparently paying $44,000 a day in compensation to the ACT Government for the delay. Corrective Services documents show that there were 1200 defects with the jail's security system last November and six were classified as "show stoppers". There are claims the new jail will not be ready to accept prisoners until December. ACT Opposition corrections spokesman Jeremy Hanson criticised the Government for the ongoing delays." Is this one of Australias Fema camps. See what i mean. Even i am being a little paranoid. Henry __________________ Henners Thoughts are boomerangs, returning with precision to their source. Choose wisely which ones you throw.

03-05-2009, 03:20 AM	#2
Dantheman62 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: So. Cal. U.S. Posts: 4,205	Re: Canberra's empty jail 'clogging up the system' I wouldn't jump to conclusions just yet, I've been in construction for about 15 years and have seen huge delays for what I call stupid reasons. Although a security system in a jail is pretty important! LOL! You would think there would be penalties of some kind for the security system company to not finish on time and in working order. Or they should've voided their contract due to incompetence and hired somebody else! hmmm