By LAURA WAKELY
MELTON Shire Council has hit back at plans to build a 500-bed prison in Ravenhall.
The Baillieu Government announced last week that a privately-operated men’s prison will be built with more than $500 million in funds from tonight’s State Budget.
Melton Mayor Justin Mammarella said council was “bemused” that the Government was more concerned about overcrowding in prisons than in hospitals, on roads and on public transport.
The prison would be the third correctional services facility in the Melton Shire, as women’s prison Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and the Metropolitan Remand Centre are already located in the municipality.
He said the employment opportunities created by the new prison were welcomed but that other projects should have taken priority.
“Council has been advocating to the State Government for several infrastructure projects and services that are much needed for our fast growing community,” Cr Mammarella said.
“Our community experiences unprecedented growth and is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia, with 52 families moving in and 41 babies being born each week.”
He named the Caroline Springs Railway Station, a 24-hour general public hospital for Melton, the duplication of Melton Hwy and an upgrade of Melton Railway Station as “critical projects”.
Cr Mammarella called on the Government to hold “extensive” consultation with the community about the prison.
The Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) was also outraged by the plan, with CEO Cath Smith concerned the prison would come at the cost of programs and services that address the cause of criminal behaviour.
“How do we account for the damage done when every dollar spent on prisons is a dollar not spent on programs that work – affordable housing, parenting support for vulnerable families, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, mental health programs, and education?” Ms Smith said.
“We know most Victorian prisoners are unemployed when they go to prison, that less than one in 10 have any post-school education, and nearly nine in 10 female prisoners are victims of sexual, physical or mental abuse.”
She said population growth should drive the provision of increased and improved services for the community rather than prisons.
